Life at Conception Act & IVF: The Bill Wouldn’t Do Anything

Numerous outlets are running with the claim that scores of House Republicans, by co-sponsoring the “Life at Conception Act,” are trying to outlaw IVF. The truth is that the law would do nothing more than declare a congressional view. Drawing the implications of that view and putting them into practice would require further legislation.

It’s a very short piece of legislation, so you can read it for yourself. Here’s the closest it comes to operative language (which is not very): “The Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. However, nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.” It goes on to say that any member of the human species, in any stage of development, counts as a human being. It also says that it is acting under the 14th Amendment to implement equal protection.

About the Author

Ramesh Ponnuru

Ramesh Ponnuru is the editor of National Review, a columnist for the Washington Post, and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

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Numerous outlets are running with the claim that scores of House Republicans, by co-sponsoring the “Life at Conception Act,” are trying to outlaw IVF. The truth is that the law would do nothing more than declare a congressional view. Drawing the implications of that view and putting them into practice would require further legislation.

It’s a very short piece of legislation, so you can read it for yourself. Here’s the closest it comes to operative language (which is not very): “The Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. However, nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.” It goes on to say that any member of the human species, in any stage of development, counts as a human being. It also says that it is acting under the 14th Amendment to implement equal protection.