Law in Place to Prevent Pressure for Eugenic Abortion

I wrote earlier this year about the Kennedy/Brownback bill, intended to prevent parents from being pressured into (or against) eugenic abortion when a gestating baby is found to have a condition such as Down syndrome, dwarfism, or cystic fibrosis. I am happy to report that it was signed into law, although it was done so quietly this is the first I heard of it. From the story:

The Kennedy-Brownback Act is designed to establish databases of information and registries to give parents better access to support, adoption resources and accurate information about Down syndrome and other genetic conditions such as spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and dwarfism, both before and after birth.

The law was co-sponsored by Sens. Sam Brownback, an anti-abortion proponent from Kansas, and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, a Democrat who supports abortion rights.

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona joined on as a co-sponsor in September after selecting Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Palin’s youngest son, Trig, was born last spring with the condition.,Advocates for the disabled say the need for the law transcends ideological lines.

It should, but I don’t think it does. Eugenic attitudes are growing. Hence, as I wrote frequently during the past campaign, the hate directed at Palin, which I continue to believe had much to do with her giving birth to Trig.

I wish President Bush had given greater fanfare to his signing the law (or, if he did, that the media had reported it more prominently), but I am very glad it is now in place.