Republican Leaders Plan House Vote On Late-Term Abortion Ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders are planning a House vote next week on a bill banning late-term abortions after dropping a requirement that rape victims would qualify for the procedure only if they’d already reported the crime to authorities.

Top House Republicans abruptly reversed plans to debate the measure in January after GOP women and moderates objected to that reporting requirement. Instead, the new version requires rape victims to have counseling or medical treatment at least 48 hours before an abortion.

Anti-abortion groups including National Right to Life and the Susan B. Anthony List worked with House leaders in crafting the new bill and support it. Top GOP aides predicted the measure would be approved.

The bill would make most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy illegal, with few exceptions.