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United States · Law · S

S. 3 (108th)

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

14 February 2003

Last action

5 November 2003 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 108-105.

Sponsors

Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Fitzgerald, Peter [R-IL], Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO], Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ], Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Roberts, Pat [R-KS], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH], Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC], Sen. Allen, George [R-VA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY], Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN], Sen. Sununu, John E. [R-NH], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA], Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN], Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

7 April 2025

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Summary

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury. Defines a "partial-birth abortion" as an abortion in which the person performing the abortion: (1) deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the mother's body, or, in the case of a breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the mother's body; and (2) performs the overt act, other than completion of delivery, that kills the partially delivered living fetus. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 14 February 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

  2. 14 February 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2522-2523)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 14 February 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 24 February 2003

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 19.

    Source: Calendars

  5. 10 March 2003

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3383-3389, S3390-3399)

    Source: Floor

  6. 11 March 2003

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3422-3429, S3454, S3456-3463, S3482-3494)

    Source: Floor

  7. 12 March 2003

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3560-3614)

    Source: Floor

  8. 13 March 2003

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 33. Record Vote Number: 51.(text of measure as passed Senate: CR S3658-3660)

    Source: Floor

  9. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  10. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  11. 13 March 2003

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S3653-3662)

    Source: Floor

  12. 4 June 2003

    Floor

    A similar measure H.R. 760 was laid on the table without objection.

    Source: Floor

  13. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  14. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H4951-4953)

    Source: Floor

  15. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H4951-4953)

    Source: Floor

  16. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    The House struck all after the enacting clause and inserted in lieu thereof the provisions of a similar measure H.R. 760. Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  17. 4 June 2003

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 257. (consideration: CR H4951-4953)

    Source: Floor

  18. 4 June 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of the Senate bill and the House amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Sensenbrenner, Hyde, and Nadler.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  19. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  20. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    On motion that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  21. 4 June 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    The previous question was ordered without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  22. 4 June 2003

    Passed

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 760 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Section 2 of the rule provides that after passage of H.R. 760, it shall be in order to take from the Speaker's table S. 3, the Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 2003, and to consider the Senate bill in the House. The rule further provides for a motion to strike all after the enacting clause of S. 3 and to insert in lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 760 as passed by the House and waives all points of order against the motion to strike and insert. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.

    Source: Floor

  23. 4 June 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Sensenbrenner moved that the House insist upon its amendment, and request a conference.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  24. 5 June 2003

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill and House requests a conference.

    Source: Floor

  25. 17 September 2003

    Vote

    Motion to disagree to House amendment to Senate bill agreed to by Yea-Nay Vote. 93 - 0. Record Vote Number: 351. (consideration: CR S11589-11601, S11614-11620)

    Source: Floor

  26. 22 September 2003

    Floor

    Senate appointed conferees Hatch, DeWine, Santorum, Feinstein, Boxer.

    Source: Floor

  27. 23 September 2003

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  28. 25 September 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    The Speaker appointed conferees: Chabot and Lofgren.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  29. 30 September 2003

    Passed

    Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  30. 30 September 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  31. 30 September 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report H. Rept. 108-288 filed. (text of conference report: CR H8991-8996)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  32. 30 September 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 108-288 filed.(text of conference report: CR H8991-8996)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  33. 1 October 2003

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 383 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to S. 3. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read when called up for consideration.

    Source: Floor

  34. 2 October 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  35. 2 October 2003

    Vote

    On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 281 - 142 (Roll no. 530). (consideration: CR H9155)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  36. 2 October 2003

    Passed

    Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  37. 2 October 2003

    Vote

    Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 281 - 142 (Roll no. 530).(consideration: CR H9155)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  38. 2 October 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    The previous question was ordered without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  39. 2 October 2003

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany S. 3.

    Source: Floor

  40. 2 October 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Sensenbrenner brought up conference report H. Rept. 108-288 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 383. (consideration: CR H9142-9155)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  41. 2 October 2003

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 383 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  42. 21 October 2003

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S12914-12948)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  43. 21 October 2003

    Vote

    Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Yea-Nay Vote. 64 - 34. Record Vote Number: 402.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  44. 22 October 2003

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  45. 28 October 2003

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  46. 28 October 2003

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  47. 5 November 2003

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 108-105.

    Source: President

  48. 5 November 2003

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  49. 5 November 2003

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

21 October 2003 · Conference Report Agreed to · On the Conference Report S. 3 · Conference Report Agreed to · Official source

Yes 64 · No 34 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 2

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

17 September 2003 · Motion Agreed to · On the Motion (Motion to Disagree To The Amendment Of The House To S.3 ) · Motion Agreed to · Official source

Yes 93 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 7

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

13 March 2003 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 3 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 64 · No 33 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 3

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

16 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 5 November 2003

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 5 November 2003

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 5 November 2003

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  • Conference report filed in House

    summary · EN · 30 September 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 4 June 2003

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 4 June 2003

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 13 March 2003

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 24 February 2003

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 24 February 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 14 February 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 14 February 2003

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 14 February 2003

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