Definition of a Woman ...

WOMAN: The term `woman' means a female human being who is capable of becoming pregnant, whether or not she has reached the age of majority.

This is NOT my definition! It's worse than that! This is the definition in a bill before U.S. House and Senate committees right now.

It is included in the bill called "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2005" (H.R. 356 & S. 51, SEC. 2901(6)).

This bill is an Anti-Abortion … uh … pro-life … bill requiring abortion providers to inform their clients that after 20 weeks, a fetus experiences pain during the procedure.

It is sponsored by a number of Congressional women (and men).

Questions:

1. Why is a separate definition needed for a single bill?
2. Wouldn’t you think that our Legislature could at least agree on this definition for All legislation?
3. Would you want this definition to be used in future, unspecified laws?
4. Would you want this definition applied to laws defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman? Remember, a 13 year old girl could fit that description.
5. Where did our legislators have their heads when they thought this one up?
6. How could they allow this definition to stand?
7. If your wife is post-menopausal and cannot bear children; does that mean she is not a woman?
   

Please check the sponsors of this bill. If your Legislator is on it raise hell! You may agree or disagree with the bill itself, but no one should allow this definition to stand.

BTW, the house version went from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (?) to the Subcommittee on Health which is where it has been since 2/25/05. The Senate version went to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions where Sen. Brownback presented opening comments on 1/26/05. No further action is listed in the Congressional Record to date.