Sen. Mike DeWine's Record on Protecting the Unborn

Mike DeWine is one of the United States Senate’s strongest advocates in supporting efforts to protect the lives of unborn children. He is fighting tirelessly to ensure that those who cannot speak have a voice.

Unborn Victims of Violence. President Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act into law in April, 2004. Mike DeWine was the Senate sponsor of this law, which recognizes that when a criminal attacks a pregnant woman and injures or kills the child she is carrying, he has claimed not one, but two victims.

Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Mike DeWine worked with his colleagues in the Senate to take an historic step toward ending the needless, horrific procedure known as partial-birth abortion by voting with his colleagues to pass the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Senator DeWine, who is an original co-sponsor of the Act, helped lead the fight against amendments that would have weakened the bill to possibly allow partial-birth abortions to continue. The President signed the bill into law on November 5, 2003.

DeWine Amendment: No Abortion Fringe Benefit for Federal Employees. Mike DeWine has repeatedly offered an amendment to ensure that federal taxpayers’ dollars are not used to pay for abortions for federal employees.

Embryonic Stem Research. Senator DeWine opposes embryonic stem cell research, as well as the purposeful destruction of embryonic stem cells in the name of “science.” Senator DeWine will oppose any bill that would expand existing policy by allowing the government to pay for studies on embryos in frozen storage at fertility clinics, even if the couples who conceive them certify that they would otherwise discard them. Senator DeWine strongly opposes the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which would allow taxpayer dollars to be used for research that destroys human embryos.

Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. Senator DeWine is an original co-sponsor of the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. This bill would require abortion providers to notify the pregnant woman that the procedure will cause pain to the unborn child and offer to administer pain-reducing drugs directly to the child.

Child Custody Protection Act. Senator DeWine is a co-sponsor of the Child Custody Protection Act, and voted for this measure in July, 2006. This bill would prevent an adult from taking a child across state lines to obtain an abortion without the consent of the parent.

Human Cloning Prohibition Act. Senator DeWine is working in the United States Senate to ensure that all forms of human cloning are prohibited to protect the sanctity of life. Senator DeWine is an original co-sponsor of the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, which would prohibit human cloning and also prohibit any person from shipping or receiving an embryo produced through human cloning.

Abortion Non-discrimination Act. Senator DeWine actively supports this legislation, which would not allow government entities that receive federal funds to discriminate against any health care provider because the provider refuses, on grounds of conscience, to provide coverage for or pay for abortions.

Fighting to Prevent the Financing of Foreign Abortions. Senator DeWine continues to work to prevent U.S. international aid payments from financing abortion services in foreign countries.