Congressional Bill Defines Life's Beginning at Conception

February 13, 2003—Washington, DC: A California congressman plans to offer a bill that would define the beginning of human life at conception.

It might be tough legislation to pass, but pro-life Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is set to introduce a bill called the "Life at Conception Act of 2003." Hunter's bill makes clear that life does begin at conception, and the California congressman hopes that if it ever becomes law, abortion supporters will have no legal leg on which to stand.

"The only way that we're going to legislatively overturn Roe v. Wade is to establish personhood early on -- and that is at conception," Hunter said.

But getting the bill passed into law will be an uphill fight. The legislation has been introduced in previous sessions of Congress but has never come up for a vote. Hunter sees a different political climate now.

"I think there's certainly more opportunity than there was when we had fewer (pro-life) numbers, he said. "And obviously, when the Senate was in the control of Democrats that made it virtually impossible, so this is a better opportunity than we've had in the past."

Hunter and the pro-life movement seem to have science on their side. Kelly Hollowell, a scientist for Science Ministries Incorporated, points out that cloning and other technologies have actually proved that life begins at conception.

"Technology can tell us exactly when life begins," Hollowell said. "People in the pro-life movement should recognize how we should use this technology to advance our position. We should be standing up (and) ... redefining protecting all life from the very moment of conception."

With technology on the side of the bill's supporters, the real question remains if enough House members will see that truth and be bold enough to take a stand for the preborn.

The bill, which already has 26 cosponsors, is expected to be introduced this week. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is pro-life, but there has been no word yet whether or not the bill will be brought up for a vote on the House floor.