WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today spoke from the Senate floor in support of the “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” The legislation would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy – the point at which scientific evidence shows that unborn children can feel pain.

Key excerpts from Wicker’s remarks include:

“Science is on our side in supporting this legislation. Public opinion is on our side in supporting this legislation. 60 percent of women, 64 percent of Independents, and 56 percent of Democrats support ending late-term abortions, which is what we’re trying to do. Medical practice is on our side in this legislation and world opinion and world practice is on our side.

“Let me simply reiterate that we in America are among a grim group of seven countries that permit abortions after 20 weeks. Canada and the Netherlands in the west, and China, North Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. We are in a grim group including North Korea and China.

“We may not have the votes this time, but we are advancing the issue, and we are going to continue to fight for the unborn, particularly those who are capable of feeling pain after 20 weeks.”

The bill prohibits abortions on unborn children 20 weeks into a pregnancy or later, except where it is necessary to save the life of the mother; if the pregnancy resulted from rape; or if the pregnancy resulted from cases of rape or incest against a minor.

The United States is currently one of only seven countries in the world that permit elective abortion after 20 weeks. The other six are North Korea, China, Vietnam, Netherlands, Singapore and Canada.

Senator Wicker has a 100 percent voting record from National Right to Life and a 100 percent voting record from Family Research Council.