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For Immediate Release: May 19, 2023
Contact: [email protected]

NE One of Three States to Advance Lifesaving Legislation This Week  

LINCOLN, Neb. – A measure to protect life 10 weeks sooner than is provided under current law is headed to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk. This afternoon, Nebraska legislators voted 33-15 to pass the Let Them Grow Act that eliminates elective painful, late-term abortions in the state and saves babies at the point when their hearts have beat over 10 million times. The bill includes rape, incest and life of the mother exceptions.

SBA Pro-Life America’s Western Regional Director Adam Schwend shared his reaction:

“Life is winning in the states. Nebraska’s victory caps off an incredible week of progress with North Carolina overriding Gov. Cooper’s veto of their own 12-week protection and South Carolina’s House passage of a heartbeat bill.

“Protecting babies at 12 weeks is a significant gain for life in Nebraska. Though the majority of Nebraskans wanted a heartbeat bill to be passed this year, we are grateful for the persistence of Gov. Pillen and pro-life legislators in moving the state forward to protect unborn children from painful, late-term abortions. At 12 weeks, you can know the gender and begin to see if baby resembles mom or dad. There’s no denying the humanity of an unborn child at this stage who sucks their thumb and responds to touch.”

The pro-life measures which advanced in the Carolinas this week are:

• North Carolina SB 20 creates a protection for unborn children at 12 weeks gestation and provides $160 million in funding to support children, families and maternal health. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill over Mother’s Day weekend following a week-long tour to pressure Republicans into voting with him. His veto was overridden by the Senate and the House on Tuesday evening.
• South Carolina S. 474 protects life at the point that a heartbeat is detected with exceptions for rape, incest, life and health of the mother, and fatal fetal anomaly. The state’s current law allows for unborn lives to be taken until 20 weeks gestation – five weeks beyond the point when a baby can first feel pain. The bill which passed the House on Wednesday evening only needs Senate approval to be sent to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk.

The advancement of protections in North Carolina, South Carolina and Nebraska mirror the pro-life momentum seen in other states during the 2023 legislative session season. Montana, this month, established new laws to prevent taxpayer funded abortions, require abortionists to report women harmed by abortion pills, protect the lives of abortion survivors and require the licensing of abortion facilities. North Dakota Gov. Burgum signed a measure protecting babies at all stages. Florida Gov. DeSantis signed a heartbeat law in April. A Wyoming measure prohibiting dangerous abortion pills was also recently signed.

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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