STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Daniel Donovan and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks.

The bill outlaws abortions after 20 weeks unless the life of the mother is in jeopardy or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, and states that the baby can feel pain at 20 weeks.

Several states, including New York, allow abortions after 20 weeks.

The bill had previously passed the House in 2015, but could not overcome a Democratic filibuster in the Senate. The same is expected this time around.

With Republicans holding 52 seats, and needing 60 votes to pass, eight Democrats would need to support the bill, which is unlikely.

Democrats scrutinized Donovan's 2015 vote, as he had said while campaigning that he wouldn't support federal restrictions on abortion.

He defended his vote then and now.

A spokesperson for Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said, "Late-term abortion is an extreme procedure that a majority of Americans rightfully oppose. Science and medicine has advanced since 1973 when the Roe v. Wade decision determined that a baby was viable after 26 weeks. Now the medical community has deemed that a baby feels pain at 20 weeks, and this legislation reflects that reality."

Proponents of the bill praised the House for passing it.

The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, said, "The House's approval of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is a turning point. It clarifies which of our federal representatives are or are not willing to allow the infliction of excruciating pain on little children ... The next step, therefore, is to challenge the Democratic senators to stand up and protect these children from the painful violence of abortion. Anyone who cannot vote for this bill has some explaining to do to the rest of us, to whom it is self-evident that tearing children apart is wrong."

Planned Parenthood, which opposes the bill, slammed Donovan.

"Planned Parenthood of New York City is deeply disappointed that Rep. Donovan once again voted for this extreme and dangerous bill," said Laura McQuade, president and CEO. "Politicians have no place interfering in the personal medical decisions of patients and their trusted health care providers. Clinicians need to provide the highest-quality care to their patients based on their individual health care needs -- not politicians' whims. For the third time, politicians in Washington are attempting to pass this out-of-touch bill, and New Yorkers won't stand by and allow their health care and rights to be eroded."