It appears even pro-life laws are bigger in Texas.
PFI applauds the state policy efforts that are saving lives in Texas. Not only have they improved the regulations and accountability of abortion clinics, but some estimate that there were 9,200 fewer abortions this year alone because of Texas lawmakers passing H.B. 2 – which a federal court upheld last week.
Most think it obvious that clinics performing abortion surgery should follow the same inspection and safety regulations that every other clinic performing surgery has to follow. But abortion clinics had found ways to receive special treatment across the country. And up until a few years ago, not only other surgical clinics but nail salons in Pennsylvania were more closely monitors than our abortion clinics.
That was until 2011 when PFI led the effort to pass what is now the center of the new law in Texas – regulations that hold clinics that perform abortion to the same high standards of every other surgical facility in the state. (Read more about the incredible story behind it by clicking here).
A catalyst for this action is convicted-murderer & abortionist Kermit Gosnell. Pennsylvania allowed Gosnell to operate without inspection an abortion clinic for decades; a clinic killing women and born-alive babies because state departments “literally licensed Gosnell’s criminally dangerous behavior.”
The uncovering of the Gosnell horrors have shed light on the shortcomings of abortion law across the country. And it’s what spurred both Pennsylvania and Texas to ensure abortion clinics are treated with the same high standards of every other surgical clinic.
But the recent Texas law didn’t stop there. It now requires abortionists to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic. Pennsylvania has introduced legislation with this same goal (HB 1762) and, though it has 55 sponsors, it has yet to receive the broader support it needs to pass.
Texas also now prohibits abortion at 20 weeks thanks to research showing unborn babies feeling pain by this time. Pennsylvania still allows abortion up to 24 weeks.
Since Gosnell, PFI is grateful to say in Pennsylvania there have been improvements to valuing unborn life. Not only did we see abortion clinic regulations pass but we have helped policymakers to ensure your taxdollars will not fund abortion and to aid parents when an unborn child is diagnosed with Down Syndrome (Chloe’s Law).
But Texas has shown us, we still have work to do.