MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Little, Johnson (19th)

A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION BANNING PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTIONS.

WHEREAS, in 1997, the United States Congress overwhelmingly passed the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997" (HR 1122); and

WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives passed the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997" by a vote of 295 ayes and 136 nays; the United States Senate passed the act by a vote of 64 ayes and 36 nays; on October 10, 1997, President Bill Clinton vetoed the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997"; the U.S. House of Representatives overrode the President's veto by a vote of 295 ayes and 131 nays; and the Senate voted to override the President's veto by a vote of 64 ayes and 36 nays, falling just shy of the two-thirds vote required to override; and

WHEREAS, laws to ban this uniquely controversial late-term abortion procedure have been passed in at least 30 states, including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, an overwhelming majority of Americans and members of Congress support the banning of the abhorrent practice of partial-birth abortions:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the Mississippi Senate urges the United States Congress to pass, and the President of the United States to sign into law, legislation banning partial-birth abortion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a certified copy of this resolution be sent by the Secretary of State to the President of the United States Senate, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and to each member of the Mississippi congressional delegation.