Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 228-196 to approve the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797), which bans late-term abortions after 20 weeks.
While the fight against abortion is taking place on a federal level, several states are also working to strengthen their abortion laws.
Wisconsin: Sonya’s Law, which will require women to receive an ultrasound before obtaining an abortion and abortionists to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles, has passed in both the State Senate and Assembly. Republican Governor Scott Walker is expected to sign the bill. He is on record as saying, “I don’t have any problem with ultrasounds. I think most people think ultrasounds are just fine.”
The hospital admitting privileges measure in this bill could force Planned Parenthood’s Appleton Clinic to shut down.
We congratulate Wisconsin Right to Life and Wisconsin Family Action for their leadership and success in defending life.
Ohio: Prolife legislation, House Bill 200, has been introduced in the Ohio House. This legislation would extend the abortion waiting period from 24 hours to 48 hours, require that women undergo an ultrasound, and encourage doctors to tell women seeking abortions that the baby can feel pain. The bill was put forth by Rep. Ron Hood. Thirty-four of Hood’s GOP colleagues are supporting the bill, including two women—Reps. Kristina Roegner and Marilyn Slaby.
Additionally, Ohio’s state budget, which must be signed by June 30, has been deemed “strong” and “prolife” by the Ohio Right to Life. Measures in the budget divert funds away from Planned Parenthood, establish new funding for pregnancy centers, ban transfer agreements between abortion clinics and public hospitals, and provide for stronger abortion clinic regulations.
Texas: With recent news about Douglas Karpen, who is being attributed as the Texas Gosnell for killing babies after being born alive from botched abortions, pro-life legislation was added to the special session of the Texas legislature. Yesterday, the Texas Senate voted to approve restrictions that “would allow abortions only in surgical facilities and place greater controls on abortion-inducing medications,” such as RU-486. The legislation now heads to the Texas House for approval.
As advocates of prolife legislation, it is thrilling to see states’ progress in working to save the lives of the unborn.
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