«We look forward to President Bush signing this important bill into law as he has promised to do,» said Gail Quinn, executive director of the bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.
The Senate’s action Tuesday followed an Oct. 1 House-Senate Conference Committee agreement to reject a resolution affirming the 1973 Roe vs. Wade court decision that legalized abortion. That resolution had been attached to the Senate version of the bill.
The bill now goes to President George W. Bush for his signature. Bush has promised to sign the act into law. Abortion supporters vow a court challenge to the new law.
In her statement, Quinn said: «We are very pleased that the House and Senate have come to agreement on legislation to ban the inhumane partial-birth abortion procedure. Despite setbacks, the American people have never wavered in their determination to stop this cruel and unjust practice.»