Sanctity of Human Life Act
Background: In
the manner of a Human Life Bill, the Sanctity of Human Life Act
has as its
official title, "To provide that human life shall be deemed to
begin with fertilization." The bill
has two sections, a Declaration (Sec. 2) and Definitions (Sec.
3). In the exercise of its powers
under the U. S. Constitution, including Art. 1, Sec. 8 and Art.
14, Sec. 5, Congress declares that
"(A) the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested
in each human being, and is the
paramount and most fundamental right of a person; and (B) the
life of each human being begins
with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent,
irrespective of sex, health, function or
disability, defect, stage of biological development, or condition
of dependency, at which time
every human being shall have all the legal and constitutional
attributes and privileges of
personhood," and Congress affirms that "the Congress, each State,
the District of Columbia, and
all United States territories have the authority to protect the
lives of all human beings residing in
its respective jurisdictions" (Sec. 2). The bills defined the
terms Fertilization, Cloning, and
Human, Human Being (Sec. 3).
House: On
November 13, 2007, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) introduced the Sanctity
of Human Life
Act (H.R. 4157). The measure had 48 cosponsors and was referred
to the House Judiciary
Committee. No further action was taken.
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