Senate Oks Bill That Targets Fetal Violence

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WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday approved legislation making it a separate offense to harm the fetus in a federal crime committed against a pregnant woman, sending the measure to President Bush for his signature.

Opponents denounced the proposal, adopted on a vote of 61-38, as an effort to undermine the constitutional right to abortion by recognizing the fetus as a person. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, both R-Utah, voted in favor of the bill. The House passed the measure on Feb. 26 by a vote of 254-163.

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Senate Oks Bill That Targets Fetal Violence

The Senate's action was the second major victory in the Republican controlled Congress for the anti-abortion movement, which has sought this legislation since 1999. Last November, President Bush signed into law a ban on the procedure that critics call partial-birth abort...

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