For Immediate Release: April 14, 2023
Contact: Kelsey Pritchard, [email protected]
Gov. Kelly Advancing Ralph-Northam-Abortion-Extremism in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. – Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a Kansas bill to protect infants born alive following a failed abortion. The measure would provide infant abortion survivors the same human rights and legal protections as other babies born at an early stage.
HB 2313 would require reporting of abortion survivors, something Kansas as well as the vast majority of states do not currently report. Four of the states that track born-alive numbers account for 111 babies surviving failed abortion over the last five years. The Abortion Survivors Network estimates 1,734 babies live through abortions each year.
SBA Pro-Life America’s Western Regional Director Adam Schwend shared his reaction:
“Ralph Northam may have faded into political obscurity but his infanticidal view on babies who survive abortion lives on through Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. It’s disturbing to see Gov. Kelly, Kansas Democrats and the abortion industry attempt to pretend a whole group of people doesn’t exist, when the Abortion Survivors Network is located right in Kansas City.
“The way the abortion industry is trying to erase these individuals who persevere daily over trauma, pain, and complications is appalling – all in the name of trying to avoid bad PR so that their profit margins are not affected. We should all be concerned with how they’re trying to dehumanize this group of people, and we look forward to the Kansas Legislature representing the view of the people in overriding Gov. Kelly’s heartless veto.”
Melissa Ohden, an abortion survivor and the Founder of the Abortion Survivors Network, commented on the veto:
“Kansas deserves better than Gov. Kelly’s veto of this bill. We remain committed to serving survivors of abortion at any gestational age, along with their mothers, who deserve compassionate prenatal and postpartum care, a delivery plan and emotional support.”
The Kansas House passed the born-alive bill by an 86-36 vote on Tuesday following the Senate’s 31-9 vote. According to a McLaughlin poll, 77% of voters support legislation to ensure that a baby who survives a failed abortion be given the same medical treatment as any other baby born prematurely at the same age.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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