Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) is leading the protest against language in the bill. | Getty GOP women object to rape clause in 20-week abortion bill The language requires rape victims to report their assault to police to qualify for an exemption.

HERSHEY, Pa. — A group of female GOP lawmakers is trying to pressure the Republican leadership team to make changes to a 20-week abortion ban the House is set to vote on next week.

Led by Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, the lawmakers are protesting language that requires a rape victim to formally report her assault to police to qualify for an exemption from the legislation’s abortion restrictions.


Ellmers raised the concerns during a closed-door meeting at the GOP retreat here, according to sources in the room. Her office did not have a comment on Friday on the discussions with Republican leaders.

The legislation would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, a measure that Republicans argue is broadly popular with Americans and offers a common-sense way to limit abortion rights. But the female lawmakers say such a narrow rape exemption would put the GOP at odds with voters.

The Justice Department estimates that only 32 percent of rape victims report their rapes to authorities.

A Republican staffer involved in the discussion said at least six lawmakers had raised the issue with Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) during a closed-door meeting Tuesday. The senior-level aide said the Republican lawmakers argue that enacting a ban with only a formal exemption could further dissuade rape victims from coming forward.

The lawmakers, the staffer said, are aggressively pressing Scalise to rewrite the bill to include a broader exemption for victims of sexual assault before the bill comes to the floor next week.

Democrats quickly criticized the proposed legislation.

Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said it was “unconscionable” to force rape victims to formally report the rape before seeking an abortion.

“Forcing women to go on-the-record about such a traumatic experience as a prerequisite to getting help is unconscionable, and adds to the pain of women who are survivors of rape or incest,” the two Democrats said in a statement.

The legislation was introduced by Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Arizona Rep. Trent Franks and is set to be voted on Thursday — the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. The vote also falls on the day when thousands of anti-abortion advocates will flock to Washington for the annual March for Life event. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) worked with nearly a dozen anti-abortion groups to sync the vote and the march.

“This is something we can all get together on,” said Franks (R-Ariz.) last week. “The truth is, this bill is a deeply sincere effort to protect both mothers and their pain-capable unborn babies.”