Several Republicans in Tennessee’s federal delegation say they are open to a proposed federal ban on abortions after 15 weeks. The federal legislation would still leave Tennessee’s full abortion ban intact.
More: Sen. Graham’s proposed federal abortion ban would still allow for stricter bans like Tennessee’s
Republican Congressmen John Rose and Chuck Fleischmann say they would vote in favor of a federal abortion ban.
A 15-week ban was introduced in the Senate by Lindsey Graham earlier this week, which contradicts some claims by Republicans that it should be left up to the states.
If passed, it wouldn’t change Tennessee’s current all-out ban. But it would restrain laws in states like California and Illinois, which don’t ban the procedure until viability (usually after 24 weeks).
A similar bill was filed last year to ban abortions after 20 weeks. At the time, both Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty signed on as co-sponsors.
Neither responded to a request for comment from WPLN News. An identical bill in the House was also supported by five out of Tennessee’s seven Republican members of Congress.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM