The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which is before the United States House of Representatives this week, would finally align federal law with the sentiments of the American public. The law represents a change in focus regarding the life of a fetus and would make legal protection less about constantly changing viability rates and more about the humane desire to avoid inflicting pain on a defenseless creature.

In seven states and the District of Columbia, there are no restrictions on late-term abortion. These jurisdictions are significantly out of step with mainstream American attitudes about the protection of preterm infants as demonstrated both by opinion polls on late-term abortion and by the tremendous investment our society makes in ensuring the survival of these children when they are born prematurely.

A 2016 survey shows that a majority of Americans believe abortion should be restricted to the first three months of pregnancy. In fact, only a quarter of pro-choice Americans support abortion during the third trimester.

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