Monday, President George Bush signed a measure extending federal protection to children born despite abortion procedures. And he says he hopes it's a step toward banning abortion itself.

The president signed the Born-Alive Infant’s Protection Act, which amends the legal definitions of "person," "human being" and "child."

Some abortion rights activists say it intrudes on private medical decisions. But Rockford pro-life advocates applauded the measure saying it's about human decency and does little to change the law.

The measure passed Congress by unanimous consent.