The measure, passed 252-172, would up the penalty for attacks on pregnant women.
Opponents see it as a bid to curb abortion rights.
The House voted yesterday to make harming a fetus during a crime a federal offense - the opening effort by antiabortion forces to push the new Congress to adopt tighter restrictions on abortions and to give legal protections to the unborn. The legislation, passed 252-172, would cover anyone who injures or kills a fetus while committing a federal crime. The punishment would be the same as if the pregnant woman were injured or killed, but prosecutors would be unable to seek the death penalty. Criminal charges could be filed even if the attacker did not know that the woman was pregnant, or even if the woman did not know she was pregnant. That's what this bill is trying to do.