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WASINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined a bipartisan majority of the Senate Thursday in passing the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, H.R. 1997, to protect unborn children from assault and murder. Sen. Cornyn is a co-sponsor of the Senate version of the legislation. The bill passed by a vote of 61-38. "This important legislation would protect unborn children by establishing that if an unborn child is injured or killed during a violent crime, prosecutors may bring a second charge on behalf of the second victim – the unborn child,” Cornyn said. "After passing the partial-birth abortion ban last year, this is another key step toward building a culture that respects every human life, from conception to natural death. Children are precious gifts and should be protected under the law from brutal and vicious acts such as violent crime, just as adults are.”Under this legislation, prosecutors may bring a second charge on behalf of the unborn victim if that child is injured or killed during the commission of an already-defined federal crime of violence. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act passed in the House on Feb. 26 by a vote of 254-163 and now moves to the President for his signature. Sen. Cornyn is also co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, S. 3, which the Senate passed last year and the President then signed into law. It prohibits all partial-birth abortions except when necessary to save the life of the mother.