Sun Feb 02 06:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Missouri Congressman Introduces Bill to Federally Ban Abortion, Defining Fetuses as “Persons”
**Washington D.C.** – Republican Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri has introduced the Life at Conception Act, a bill aiming to establish a nationwide abortion ban. The bill, which currently boasts 68 cosponsors, asserts that a fetus is a “person” under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, thereby granting it legal protection.
While the full text of the bill remains unavailable, Burlison’s office released a statement declaring the intention to legally recognize and protect the right to life of unborn children from conception. This move highlights a contrasting approach within the Republican party: simultaneously seeking to narrow the definition of citizenship under the 14th Amendment while expanding the definition of “personhood” to encompass fetuses.
Critics argue that granting personhood to a fetus could jeopardize the rights and well-being of pregnant women. Studies have shown links between abortion bans and delayed medical care for women experiencing miscarriages, increased maternal mortality in high-risk pregnancies, and the criminalization of pregnant individuals. Furthermore, abortion bans are impacting the healthcare system, with a 2023 study revealing a 6.7% drop in ob-gyn residency applications in states with abortion bans, and a 2024 study indicating that 11% of ob-gyns have left states with such restrictions.
The bill faces a challenging path to passage. While it requires a simple majority (218 votes) in the House of Representatives, it would need 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold 53 seats. The bill’s future remains uncertain, but its introduction ignites a renewed debate on abortion rights and the legal definition of personhood.
First Piper 