WASHINGTON, D.C., February 10, 2015 (LifeSiteNews.com) — The House of Representatives now has two bills before it aiming to protect all unborn children from the moment of conception.
On January 21, Rep. Jody Hice, R-GA, introduced the “Sanctity of Human Life Act,” or H.R. 426, which would define human life as beginning at conception. That bill, introduced by former Rep. Paul Broun, R-GA in past Congresses, has now been joined by H.R. 816, the “Life at Conception Act,” which was first introduced in 2007.
“I have always believed the greatest duty of society is to protect the most defenseless among us,” said Alex Mooney, R-WV, who introduced the bill. “There are thousands of unborn babies who need us to fight tirelessly on the issue of human life. A human life is a precious thing and anything I can do to fight for the most vulnerable among us, I will.”
H.R. 816 has 53 cosponsors, according to Congress.gov, which is a record number of original backers. Among them is Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, the only Democratic cosponsor either bill has.
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“We hope to get a vote on the House floor,” Mooney told LifeSiteNews. “We definitely want to keep the conversation going on protecting life.”
The bills are functionally equivalent, though H.R. 426 has more specific language on what it means to be a conceived human being. Hice's bill has 13 cosponsors.
Mooney's bill is a priority of the National Pro-Life Alliance, while Hice's version garnered significant support from The Personhood Alliance.
H.R. 816's co-sponsors:
Rep. Jordan, Jim [R-OH-4]
Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large]
Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4]
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
Rep. Black, Diane [R-TN-6]
Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7]
Rep. McKinley, David B. [R-WV-1]
Rep. Jenkins, Evan H. [R-WV-3]
Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4]
Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3]
Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27]
Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4]
Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-6]
Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1]
Rep. Hultgren, Randy [R-IL-14]
Rep. Jolly, David W. [R-FL-13]
Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]
Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4]
Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19]
Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11]
Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1]
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-32]
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
Rep. Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [R-LA-3]
Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24]
Rep. Johnson, Bill [R-OH-6]
Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1]
Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4]
Rep. Salmon, Matt [R-AZ-5]
Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8]
Rep. Pittenger, Robert [R-NC-9]
Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5]
Rep. Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA-5]
Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]
Rep. Hunter, Duncan D. [R-CA-50]
Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]
Rep. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND-At Large]
Rep. Olson, Pete [R-TX-22]
Rep. Crawford, Eric A. “Rick” [R-AR-1]
Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8]
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. “Chuck” [R-TN-3]
Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1]
Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12]
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-3]
Rep. Ratcliffe, John [R-TX-4]
Rep. Clawson, Curt [R-FL-19]
Rep. Love, Mia B. [R-UT-4]
Rep. Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX-14]
