Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass S.2311, a bill introduced by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that would ban abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation, a point at which many believe unborn children can feel pain.
The bill failed 51-46, with two republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) opposing it.
The bill never had much chance of reaching 60 votes necessary to pass cloture, however, as Republicans only have a 51-49 majority in the Senate. The House passed the bill 237-189 in October of last year, but pro-life Americans can wave even such small legislative victories goodbye if both Republican houses are lost in 2018.
President Trump previously urged the Senate to pass the bill earlier this month when he addressed the annual March for Life in Washington.
Indeed, the Trump administration was quick to put out an official statement expressing disappointment in the Senate vote and noting the extreme laxity of American abortion laws: “The vote by the Senate rejects scientific fact and puts the United States out of the mainstream in the family of nations, in which only 7 out of 198 nations, including China and North Korea, allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. We must defend those who cannot defend themselves. I urge the Senate to reconsider its decision and pass legislation that will celebrate, cherish, and protect life.”
