Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
Latest action · Nov 5, 2003 Became Public Law No: 108-105.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 14, 2003
- Passed SenateMar 13, 2003
- Passed HouseJun 4, 2003
- To the PresidentOct 28, 2003
- Became lawNov 5, 2003Public Law 108-105
Summary
(This measure has not been amended since the Conference Report was filed in the House on September 30, 2003. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury.
Defines a "partial-birth abortion" as an abortion in which the person performing the abortion: (1) deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the mother's body, or, in the case of a breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the mother's body; and (2) performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus.
Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion.
Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother.
Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
Recorded votes 5
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate 402 | On the Conference Report S. 3 | Conference Report Agreed to64–34 | Oct 21, 2003 |
| House 530 | On Agreeing to the Conference Report | Passed281–142 | Oct 2, 2003 |
| Senate 351 | On the Motion (Motion to Disagree To The Amendment Of The House To S.3 ) | Motion Agreed to93–0 | Sep 17, 2003 |
| Senate 51 | On Passage of the Bill S. 3 | Bill Passed64–33 | Mar 13, 2003 |
| Senate 47 | On the Motion (Boxer Motion To Commit S. 3 To The Judiciary Committee With Instructions) | Motion Rejected42–56 | Mar 12, 2003 |
Cosponsors 45
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 14, 2003 to Mar 11, 2003; 38 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-CO | Ben Nighthorse Campbell | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-MO | Christopher S. Bond | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-IA | Chuck Grassley | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-NE | Chuck Hagel | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-WY | Craig Thomas | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-OK | Don Nickles | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-NC | Elizabeth Dole | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-VA | George Allen | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-OH | George V. Voinovich | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-OR | Gordon H. Smith | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-OK | James M. Inhofe | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-AL | Jeff Sessions | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-KY | Jim Bunning | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-MO | Jim Talent | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
| R-TX | John Cornyn | Original | Feb 14, 2003 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Exchange of letters Oct 29, 2003Exchange of letters Dec 1, 2003Exchange of letters Dec 15, 2003 |
Actions 50
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Nov 5, 2003Signed by President.
- Nov 5, 2003Became Public Law No: 108-105.
- Oct 28, 2003Presented to President.
- Oct 22, 2003Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Oct 21, 2003Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S12914-12948)
In the Congressional Record 30
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S4013 | Rick Santorum R-PA | Apr 8, 2004 |
| Extensions | Debate and remarks E2436 | Zoe Lofgren D-CA | Nov 23, 2003 |
| House · Senate | Debate and remarks H11123, S14261 | Frank R. Lautenberg D-NJ, Scott Garrett R-NJ | Nov 7, 2003 |
| House · Extensions | Debate and remarks E2254, H10462 | Jeb Hensarling R-TX, Mike Pence R-IN | Nov 6, 2003 |
| House | Debate and remarks H10347 | John Boozman R-AR | Nov 5, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S13208 | Hillary Rodham Clinton D-NY | Oct 24, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S13127 | Rick Santorum R-PA | Oct 23, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S13046 | Olympia J. Snowe R-ME | Oct 22, 2003 |
| House · Senate | Debate and remarks H9801–H9806, S12914–S12948Recorded votes S12948conference report | Barbara A. Mikulski D-MD, Barbara Boxer D-CA, Bill Nelson D-FL, Christopher H. Smith R-NJ, Christopher S. Bond R-MO, Dianne Feinstein D-CA, Don Nickles R-OK, Frank R. Lautenberg D-NJ, George V. Voinovich R-OH, Jeff Sessions R-AL, Jim Bunning R-KY, John Edwards D-NC, John Ensign R-NV, Maria Cantwell D-WA, Mike DeWine R-OH, Mike Ferguson R-NJ, Mike Pence R-IN, Orrin G. Hatch R-UT, Pete V. Domenici R-NM, Richard J. Durbin D-IL, Rick Santorum R-PA, Robert B. Aderholt R-AL, Russell D. Feingold D-WI, Sam Brownback R-KS, Tom Harkin D-IA, Wayne Allard R-CO, William H. Frist R-TN | Oct 21, 2003 |
| Extensions | Debate and remarks E2004, E2010, E2011 | Chet Edwards D-TX, John Boozman R-AR, Tom Udall D-NM | Oct 8, 2003 |
| Extensions | Debate and remarks E1989 | Dennis Moore D-KS | Oct 7, 2003 |
| Senate · Extensions | Debate and remarks E1975, S12439 | Corrine Brown D-FL, William H. Frist R-TN | Oct 3, 2003 |
| House | Debate and remarks H9133, H9135–H9142, H9142–H9155Text printed H9135Amendments H9148Recorded votes H9154enact | Barbara Cubin R-WY, Barbara Lee D-CA, Bob Goodlatte R-VA, Carolyn B. Maloney D-NY, Chet Edwards D-TX, Chris Van Hollen D-MD, Christopher H. Smith R-NJ, Dave Weldon R-FL, David Vitter R-LA, Diane E. Watson D-CA, Earl Blumenauer D-OR, Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC, Ellen O. Tauscher D-CA, F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. R-WI, Fortney Pete Stark D-CA, J. Randy Forbes R-VA, James L. Oberstar D-MN, Jane Harman D-CA, Janice D. Schakowsky D-IL, Jeff Miller R-FL, Jerrold Nadler D-NY, Jo Ann Davis R-VA, John Conyers, Jr. D-MI, John Sullivan R-OK, Joseph R. Pitts R-PA, Lamar Smith R-TX, Lee Terry R-NE, Linda T. Sánchez D-CA, Louise McIntosh Slaughter D-NY, Lynn C. Woolsey D-CA, Marilyn N. Musgrave R-CO, Mark E. Souder R-IN, Mark R. Kennedy R-MN, Marsha Blackburn R-TN, Melissa A. Hart R-PA, Michael C. Burgess R-TX, Nita M. Lowey D-NY, Patrick J. Toomey R-PA, Paul D. Ryan R-WI, Phil Gingrey R-GA, Philip M. Crane R-IL, Rick Renzi R-AZ, Rob Bishop R-UT, Robert C. "Bobby" Scott D-VA, Ron Lewis R-KY, Roscoe G. Bartlett R-MD, Rush Holt D-NJ, Sam Graves R-MO, Scott Garrett R-NJ, Sheila Jackson Lee D-TX (amendment), Steny H. Hoyer D-MD, Steve Buyer R-IN, Steve Chabot R-OH, Sue Wilkins Myrick R-NC, Tammy Baldwin D-WI, Tom DeLay R-TX, Zoe Lofgren D-CA | Oct 2, 2003 |
| House | Debate and remarks H9036, H9038, H9110–H9117 | Bill Shuster R-PA, Christopher H. Smith R-NJ, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-FL, Jim Ryun R-KS, John Sullivan R-OK, Mark E. Souder R-IN, Mark R. Kennedy R-MN, Michael C. Burgess R-TX, Mike Pence R-IN, Phil Gingrey R-GA, Randy Neugebauer R-TX, Tim Murphy R-PA, Trent Franks R-AZ, W. Todd Akin R-MO | Oct 1, 2003 |
| House | Text printed H8991–H8996Conference report H8991–H8996 | F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. R-WI | Sep 30, 2003 |
| House · Senate | Debate and remarks S11964Conferees appointed H8907 | Harry Reid D-NV, Steve Chabot R-OH (conferee), Zoe Lofgren D-CA (conferee) | Sep 25, 2003 |
| Senate | Conferees appointed S11768 | Barbara Boxer D-CA (conferee), Dianne Feinstein D-CA (conferee), Mike DeWine R-OH (conferee), Orrin G. Hatch R-UT (conferee), Rick Santorum R-PA (conferee) | Sep 22, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S11589–S11605, S11613, S11614–S11620Recorded votes S11620motion to disagree with House amendment | Barbara A. Mikulski D-MD, Barbara Boxer D-CA, Christopher J. Dodd D-CT, Dianne Feinstein D-CA, Frank R. Lautenberg D-NJ, George V. Voinovich R-OH, Harry Reid D-NV, Jon S. Corzine D-NJ, Maria Cantwell D-WA, Mike DeWine R-OH, Patty Murray D-WA, Rick Santorum R-PA, Russell D. Feingold D-WI | Sep 17, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S11551–S11557 | Rick Santorum R-PA, Sam Brownback R-KS, Tom Harkin D-IA | Sep 16, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S11453–S11460 | Barbara Boxer D-CA, Ernest F. Hollings D-SC, Mitch McConnell R-KY, Richard J. Durbin D-IL | Sep 15, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S10452 | Harry Reid D-NV, William H. Frist R-TN | Jul 30, 2003 |
| House | Debate and remarks H4951, H4953Text printed H4951–H4953Motions H4953Conferees appointed H4953 | F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. R-WI (conferee, motion), Henry J. Hyde R-IL (conferee), Jerrold Nadler D-NY (conferee, motion) | Jun 4, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S6972 | Barbara A. Mikulski D-MD | May 22, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3653–S3662Text printed S3658–S3660Recorded votes S3658enact | Christopher J. Dodd D-CT, Chuck Grassley R-IA, Conrad R. Burns R-MT, John D. Rockefeller IV D-WV, Jon S. Corzine D-NJ, Orrin G. Hatch R-UT, Rick Santorum R-PA, Thomas A. Daschle D-SD, Tom Harkin D-IA | Mar 13, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3560–S3568, S3568–S3615, S3644–S3647Amendments S3571, S3581, S3600, S3622, S3640Motions S3560Recorded votes S3579, S3580, S3600, S3611Boxer motion to commit (constitutionality)Feinstein amendment (prohibit late-term abortions except to avert serious long-term physical health consequences for the mother)Harkin amendment (pro choice versus right to life)Santorum motion to table Durbin amendment (prohibit late-term abortions except to avert serious long-term physical health consequences for the mother) | Barbara A. Mikulski D-MD, Barbara Boxer D-CA (amendment, motion), Blanche L. Lincoln D-AR (amendment), Christopher J. Dodd D-CT (amendment), Debbie Stabenow D-MI (amendment), Dianne Feinstein D-CA (amendment), Edward M. Kennedy D-MA, Frank R. Lautenberg D-NJ, Harry Reid D-NV, Hillary Rodham Clinton D-NY, James M. Jeffords R-VT, Jim Bunning R-KY, John Edwards D-NC (amendment), John Ensign R-NV, John F. Kerry D-MA (amendment), Joseph I. Lieberman I-CT (amendment), Lindsey Graham R-SC, Maria Cantwell D-WA (amendment), Mary L. Landrieu D-LA, Mike DeWine R-OH, Norm Coleman R-MN, Olympia J. Snowe R-ME, Patrick J. Leahy D-VT, Pete V. Domenici R-NM, Peter Fitzgerald R-IL, Richard J. Durbin D-IL (amendment), Rick Santorum R-PA, Russell D. Feingold D-WI, Sam Brownback R-KS, Tom Harkin D-IA (amendment) | Mar 12, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3422–S3429, S3456–S3463, S3466–S3494Amendments S3481, S3551, S3555Motions S3466Recorded votes S3478Murray motion to waive Budget Act relative to Murray amendment (improve availability of contraceptives for women) | Barbara A. Mikulski D-MD (amendment), Barbara Boxer D-CA (amendment), Blanche L. Lincoln D-AR, Chuck Grassley R-IA, Daniel K. Akaka D-HI (amendment), Harry Reid D-NV (amendment), Jeff Bingaman D-NM (amendment), Jon Kyl R-AZ, Mary L. Landrieu D-LA (amendment), Michael B. Enzi R-WY, Mike DeWine R-OH, Olympia J. Snowe R-ME (amendment), Orrin G. Hatch R-UT, Patty Murray D-WA (amendment, motion), Richard J. Durbin D-IL (amendment), Rick Santorum R-PA, Sam Brownback R-KS, Susan M. Collins R-ME (amendment), Thomas A. Daschle D-SD, William H. Frist R-TN | Mar 11, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3383–S3399 | Barbara Boxer D-CA, George V. Voinovich R-OH, Jon Kyl R-AZ, Mike DeWine R-OH, Patty Murray D-WA, Rick Santorum R-PA | Mar 10, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S3337 | William H. Frist R-TN | Mar 6, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S2620 | William H. Frist R-TN | Feb 24, 2003 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S2523, S2548 | Rick Santorum R-PA, William H. Frist R-TN | Feb 14, 2003 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Committee report
Printed hearings 1
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2003283 pages | Judiciary Committee | Mar 25, 2003 |
CRS reports 5
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
Cite it 5
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| RL31943 | Budget Enforcement Procedures: The Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule | Report | Jan 9, 2023 |
| RL33467 | Abortion: Judicial History and Legislative Response | Report | Feb 25, 2022 |
| 95-724 | Abortion Law Development: A Brief Overview Archived | Report | Jan 15, 2009 |
| RL32309 | Appropriations for FY2005: Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Archived | Report | Jan 12, 2005 |
| RL31740 | Cuba: Issues for the 108th Congress Archived | Report | Dec 2, 2004 |
Amendments 4
Amendments offered to this bill.
| Amendment | Description | Offered by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA 258 | To improve the availability of contraceptives for women. | Patty Murray D-WA | Amendment SA 258 ruled out of order by the chair. |
| SA 259 | In the nature of a substitute. | Richard J. Durbin D-IL | Motion to table amendment SA 259 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 38. Record Vote Number: 46. |
| SA 260 | To express the sense of the Senate concerning the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. | Tom Harkin D-IA | Amendment SA 260 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 46. Record Vote Number: 48. |
| SA 261 | In the nature of a substitute. | Dianne Feinstein D-CA | Amendment SA 261 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 35 - 60. Record Vote Number: 49. |
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRES 383 | Waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (S. 3) to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion. | Procedurally related | Oct 2, 2003 |
| HR 760 | Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 | Procedurally related | Jun 4, 2003 |
Titles 8
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Short Titles as Passed House
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Short Titles as Passed Senate
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Short Titles as Enacted
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Short Titles on Conference report
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Other Short Titles
- Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
- Popular Titles
- Prohibit partial-birth abortion bill
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement.
- Abortion
- Administrative remedies
- Civil actions and liability
- Conspiracy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Criminal liability
- Damages
- Evidence (Law)
- Families
- Fathers
- Fetus
- Fines (Penalties)
- Government Operations and Politics
- Grandparents
- Health
- Law
- Medical ethics
- Mothers
- Osteopathy and osteopaths
- Peer review organizations (Medicine)
- Physicians
- Prosecution
- Sentences (Criminal procedure)
- Supreme Court decisions
- Women
- Women's health
Text 5
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- —Enrolled Bill
- Jun 4, 2003Engrossed Amendment House
- Mar 13, 2003Engrossed in Senate
- Feb 24, 2003Placed on Calendar Senate
- Feb 14, 2003Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.