Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement in opposition to The Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act, which would have made it “a federal offense to perform, solicit funds to perform, or coerce a woman into a sex-selection abortion.”  It would have carried a five year prison penalty.  Because it was brought up to a vote during a procedure known as “suspension of the rules,” it required a two-thirds majority to pass.  It failed to obtain the necessary two-thirds vote.

“This bill would have pitted doctors against their patients, as it would require doctors to read their patients’ minds. There is no way a doctor can identify a reason for an abortion without interrogating their patient’s intentions.  It undermines the doctor-patient relationship. 

"It is just another case of legislation introduced by the Republican Majority which accomplishes nothing except to further their political agenda.  Meanwhile, they continue to attempt to politicize legislation that protects women: the Violence Against Women Act, Paycheck Fairness Act and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.  They claim to support women, but their actions speak much louder than their words.”

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