FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2013
Elizabeth Graham — Director, Texas Right to Life
713.299.4297
Texas Senate Committee approves four pro-life bills
The four bills, filed in response to Governor Perry’s request for pro-life issues to be addressed in the special session, include Senate Bills 5, 13, 18, and 24. Texas Right to Life is pleased by the passage of these life-affirming bills out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
SB 5, the Pro-Life omnibus bill, establishes the state’s interest in protecting the lives of preborn Texans who feel pain, citing the peer-reviewed scientific data that shows preborn children experience excruciating pain during an abortion. SB 5 would also require all abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as ambulatory surgical centers and would also protect women by ensuring that abortion doctors secure admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. SB 5 includes another provision regarding medical abortions with RU-486, the abortion pill, to require doctors dispensing these pills to be present throughout all steps of a chemical abortion.
Though debate in committee on Thursday lasted about four hours, the committee heard about the atrocities recently uncovered at the Houston abortion clinic operated by abortionist Douglas Karpen. Karpen’s practice and the conviction of Kermit Gosnell brought to light the urgency of stopping the infanticide of fully-birthed newborns.
The committee recognized the need to enact protections for both children and pregnant women by moving these bills to consideration by the full Senate, which is expected next week.
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