Xavier Becerra denies existence of law banning partial-birth abortion
USA's top health official denied the existence of a federal law that bans partial-birth abortions nationwide during a congressional hearing this week, receiving criticism from a prominent pro-life activist organisation. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., asked Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra during Wednesday’s House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee hearing if the administration would uphold legislation banning partial-birth abortion.
Bilirakis also asked Becerra, the former attorney general of California and former member of Congress, if he believed the practice was illegal.
“We will continue to make sure we follow the law. With due respect, there is no medical term like ‘partial-birth abortion,’ and so I would probably have to ask you what you mean by that to describe what is allowed by law,” Becerra said. “Roe v. Wade is very clear. It [set a] precedent that a woman has a right to make decisions about her reproductive health and we will make sure that we enforce the law and protect those rights.”
When Bilirakis asked again if he agreed with the law banning partial-birth abortion, Becerra responded that “there is no law that deals specifically with the term ‘partial-birth abortion.’ We have clear precedent in the law on the rights that women have to reproductive health care.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of leading pro-life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony List, said in a statement that Becerra has no excuse to “plead ignorance” on the partial-birth abortion topic and said his avoidance of the question was a “shameless lie.”
Source: christianpost.com
