The measure, which would ban abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy based on the medically disputed theory that fetuses are capable of feeling pain, passed in a 228 to 196 vote that broke down mostly along party lines. Reflecting how little common ground the two parties share, just six Republicans voted against the bill; six Democrats voted for it.
Democrats tried to use the debate as another opportunity to portray Republicans as extreme on women's issues, a claim Republicans took pains to dispute in various ways.
"I'm not waging a war on anyone," said Kristi Noem, Republican of South Dakota, offering a rejoinder to the Democratic line that Republicans have waged a war on women. "Regardless of your personal beliefs, I would hope that stopping atrocities against little babies is something we can all agree to put an end to."
