"The future has never been brighter for babies born with Down syndrome," said state Rep. Judy Ward, one of the lead sponsors of the bill. "We’ve learned too much to accept that Down syndrome citizens should be considered anything less than full members of the community. They deserve respect and the protection of our laws."
Even if the bill, which passed with bipartisan support 139-56, also passes the Republican-controlled Senate, it will unlikely become law, as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has expressed his opposition to the legislation.
A spokeswoman for Wolf said the bill is "another example of Harrisburg Republicans exploiting vulnerable families and trying to undermine the doctor-patient relationship to score political points."
"Pennsylvania Republicans are trying once again to criminalize a health care decision that Gov. Wolf has been clear should be made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians in Harrisburg," said Wolf’s deputy press secretary Sara Goulet.