FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2023
Contact: Mary Owens, [email protected]
New Law Backed by Youngkin Would Save Hundreds of Lives a Year
Washington, D.C. – Today Virginia Del. Kathy Byron (R-22) and Sen. Stephen Newman (R-23) introduced legislation to limit abortion after 15 weeks, a point by which science reveals unborn children can feel pain. The bill advances protections for the unborn at least by a point when they feel pain, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin outlined key policy commitments to pro-life voters during his campaign, including advocating legislation to limit later-term abortions.
SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser praised the legislation:
“We thank our allies Del. Kathy Byron and Sen. Stephen Newman and Governor Youngkin for leading the fight to protect unborn children and mothers from brutal abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Babies in the womb are as human as we are. By 15 weeks they have fully formed organs, fingers and toes, and can feel excruciating pain. This compassionate bill would save as many as 500 lives a year and bring Virginia in line with the overwhelming consensus of Americans, almost two dozen states and counting, and 47 out of 50 European nations that limit abortion at 15 weeks or earlier.
“Virginians have elected pro-life leaders up and down the ballot and rejected the pro-abortion extremism of Democrats like Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam. Governor Youngkin is keeping his promise, and in the Dobbs era the voice of the people must continue to be heard in the Assembly. We are ready to fight to protect babies from the pain of abortion and lawmakers will have to tell the voters where they stand.”
Polling conducted after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision found that:
- 72% of Americans – including 75% of women, 70% of Independents and 60% of rank-and-file Democrats – believe there should be limits on abortion no later than 15 weeks of pregnancy.
- Only 10% of Americans agree with the Democratic Party platform of abortion on demand until birth.
Real Choices: In Virginia, women’s health and pregnancy centers outnumber Planned Parenthood abortion centers 24 to one.
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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