WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House representative in West Virginia’s 2nd District says life begins at conception.
“I just believe it’s a scientific fact. It’s not simply a religious fact or religious belief, I believe it’s a scientific fact and we should define when life begins,” Congressman Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) said.
This week, he’ll attempt to make that definition law when he introduces the “Life at Conception Act” in the U.S. House of Representatives. Citing the 14th Amendment, it will extend right to life protections to every unborn child or fetus – if approved.
In part, the bill reads, “The terms ‘human person’ and ‘human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, include the moment of fertilization, cloning or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.”
“I just think it’s important that we stand for life and I’m proud to be doing that,” Mooney said of the proposal on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) introduced a similar measure last year.
“We don’t know what we can pass until we try,” Mooney said of this year’s attempt. “This bill had 130 co-sponsors last year and we’re over 50 now. It has a lot of support and I do think there’s a chance it could pass.”
According to Mooney, the lead sponsor, 1st District Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and 3rd District Congressman Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) are among the bill’s co-sponsors.
“Whether it passes or not, it’s the right thing to do,” Mooney said. “I believe it’ll bring the argument where it should be to at least talk about when life begins because some folks want to talk about abortion and never talk about when it’s a human life.”
Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to permanently cut off federal funding for abortions.