For Immediate Release: April 28, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
Kansas Becomes 19th State to Protect Abortion Survivors
TOPEKA, Kan. – The will of the people prevailed in Kansas this week as state lawmakers overwhelmingly voted on a bi-partisan basis to reverse Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes on born-alive protections, abortion pill reversal and alternatives to abortion funding.
The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act provides infant abortion survivors the same human rights and legal protections as other babies born at an early stage and requires reporting of abortion survivors. The veto was overridden by an 87-37 vote in the House and a 31-9 vote in the Senate – representing the will of 96% of Kansans who support the measure according to a Heart+Mind Strategies poll conducted March 24 – April 3 of this year. According to a McLaughlin poll, 77% of Americans 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.
The legislature overrode two additional vetoes from the Governor to establish more resources for mothers who face unplanned pregnancies and inform women that chemical abortions can be reversed, which has resulted in thousands of lives saved.
SBA Pro-Life America’s Western Regional Director Adam Schwend celebrated the news:
“Kansas took three big steps forward this week in the fight for life and the defense of women. Gov. Kelly’s out-of-touch abortion extremism was on full display as she attempted to stop protections for helpless babies who survive abortions, prevent moms and babies in need from receiving resources, and limit women’s choice by not providing them information about APR. In a bi-partisan effort, lawmakers sided with the people over Kelly’s radical agenda of the Democratic Party and the profit-driven abortion industry.”
Kansas is the 19th state to enact a born-alive protection, and the first to do so since the Dobbs decision. The Montana Legislature passed a similar bill on Wednesday that is expected to be signed by the Governor. The Arizona Legislature also sent a similar measure to Gov. Katie Hobbs, another Democrat Governor who vetoed the bill going into the Easter holiday weekend.
SBA Pro-Life America and its research arm Charlotte Lozier Institute have documented hundreds of cases nationwide of babies being born alive during failed abortions. The Abortion Survivors Network estimates 1,734 babies live through abortions each year.
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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