FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 24, 2021
Contact: Prudence Robertson, [email protected] | 240-672-2828
Gov. Abbott’s Priority Legislation Advances in Special Session After Fleeing Dems’ Stunt Ends
Washington, D.C. – After a nearly 40-day stalemate and the convening of a second special session due to Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives fleeing the state to break quorum, the Texas House Public Health Committee yesterday voted to advance S.B. 4, legislation that guards against the expansion of dangerous mail-order chemical abortion drugs. One of Governor Greg Abbott’s short-list priorities for the special session, the bill passed the state Senate last month. It now heads to the Calendars Committee for approval and then to the full House.
The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) celebrated in a statement:
“We are very pleased to see the Texas House take action on this vital legislation, bringing an end to weeks of obstruction caused by some Democrats who fled the state to avoid their duties,” said SBA List State Policy Director Sue Liebel. “Compared to surgical abortions, chemical abortions pose a fourfold higher rate of complications that include severe pain and bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, and even death in some instances. With pro-abortion Democrats in Washington recklessly pushing to permanently roll back longstanding safety regulations on these dangerous drugs and turn every pharmacy and post office into an abortion center, the timing could not be more urgent – every passing day puts unborn babies and their mothers at unacceptable risk.
“We thank Governor Abbott once again for prioritizing the safety of women and girls, Lt. Gov. Patrick and our state Senate allies for passing this bill quickly on their end, State Rep. Stephanie Klick who authored the House bill, Speaker Dade Phelan for expediting the legislation within days of reaching quorum, and everyone who has worked steadfastly to get these crucial safeguards to the finish line. Texans and the majority of Americans are eager to enact commonsense limits on our national status quo of abortion on demand up to birth.”
Chemical abortions constitute a growing percentage of U.S. abortions. A recent national study, written in part by scholars at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, examined cases of death and severe adverse events after chemical abortions nationwide, especially focusing on mifepristone, the first drug used in the two-part chemical abortion process.
The study analyzed complications which occurred between September 2000 and February 2019 in the U.S.:
- More than 20 women died of complications from chemical abortions.
- More than 500 life-threatening complications were reported.
- Nearly 2,000 “severe” complications were reported.
The study authors also estimated that complications are significantly underreported in the U.S., with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxing reporting requirements even further in 2016.
SBA List is a network of 900,000 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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