A bill that would ban abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of pregnancy will get its first hearing in the House.
The bill, being heard Thursday, is based on the disputed claim that fetuses can feel pain at a gestational age of 20 weeks or older. Six states have passed similar legislation.
The bill is the top priority of the National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion group. The group says abortion laws in the nation's capital are unusually lenient.
But opponents say the bill is too restrictive and would prevent people from choosing to terminate a pregnancy when a fetus is found to have severe abnormalities.
The bill has little chance of becoming law this year, but proponents say they will continue to press the issue.
