Tennessee Right to Life Applauds Passage of Abortion Limits: "Safeguards for Women and Girls Empower to Make Fully-Informed Decisions" Nashville---The state's oldest and largest pro-life organization applauded Tuesday's strong votes in support of informed consent, a 48 hour waiting for women and girls considering abortion, and a requirement that abortion facilities be inspected and licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health.  The bills were approved by super-majorities in both the state House and state Senate and will soon be headed to Governor Haslam for his signature.  As drafted, the statutes will go into effect on July 1, 2015. Continue reading

"The purpose of this legislation is to recognize and codify that women and girls deserve all available facts and information in order to make a careful and fully informed decision and to provide them the time that is necessary to make that decision." State Representative Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough)   Key Pro-Life Protections Continue Progress This Week In Tennessee Legislature   Long sought provisions to restore informed consent, a 48-hour waiting period, and to require licensure and inspection of abortion facilities passed final committee votes this week.  On Tuesday, members of the Senate Judiciary committee approved both the licensure bill (SB 1280) by Senator Joey Hensley and the informed consent and waiting period bill (SB 1222)  by Senator Mae Beavers.  Both bills were passed by a 7-2 vote of the committee. On Wednesday, following a nearly 2 hour debate in which operators of 4 Tennessee abortion facilities spoke in opposition, pro-life members of the House Health Committee passed the informed consent and waiting period (HB 0977) sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill and Rep. Debra Moody. Continue reading

KANSAS BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO ENACT GROUNDBREAKING DISMEMBERMENT ABORTION BAN WASHINGTON –This morning, pro-life Kansas Governor Sam Brownback (R) signed into law the groundbreaking Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act. The bill received overwhelming support in the state legislature earlier this year. In signing the bill, Governor Brownback makes Kansas the first state in the nation to enact the National Right to Life model legislation that will prohibit the use of dismemberment abortions. The law will go into effect on July 1. "The Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act is the first of what we hope will be many state laws banning dismemberment abortions," said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. "This law has the power to transform the landscape of abortion policy in the United States." Continue reading

On Tuesday, April 7, Tennessee's state Senate will take its first step towards restoring common-sense policies on abortion and will debate measures providing informed consent and a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion may be performed as well as a requirement that abortion facilities be inspected and licensed as other out-patient surgical centers. Restoration of a 48 hour waiting period is even more critical as neighboring states have recently passed and/or considering longer waiting periods than Tennessee. SB 1222 (informed consent/waiting period) and SB 1280 (abortion facility regulation) will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by state Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Collierville.) Continue reading

On April 1, 2015, Tennessee's state House will take the next step toward restoring common-sense policies on abortion and will take up measures providing informed consent and a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion may be performed as well as a requirement that abortion facilities be inspected and licensed as other out-patient surgical centers. HB 977 (informed consent/waiting period) and HB 1368 (abortion facility regulation) will be heard by the House Health Committee chaired by state Representative Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville.) Click here to immediately contact the members of the committee and urge their strong support for HB 977 by Rep. Matthew Hill  and Rep. Debra Moody and HB 1368 by Rep. Susan Lynn. (Please see list of members of the committee below.) Continue reading

Tennessee's state House took the first steps today toward restoring common-sense policies on abortion with sub-committee passage of measures providing informed consent and a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion may be performed as well as a requirement that abortion facilities be inspected and licensed as other out-patient surgical centers. Continue reading

After many years of struggle, Tennessee's state House is about to begin debate of common sense protections for women, girls and unborn children.  Because of radical court rulings, Tennessee lost the ability to regulate the practice of abortion which has resulted in the tragic distinction of our state becoming a top abortion destination. Now, following passage of Amendment 1, Tennessee's lawmakers can again enact meaningful safeguards and the legislative effort to do so begins this Tuesday, March 24.   Bills to restore informed consent, a 48 hour waiting period and to require regulation of abortion facilities will be heard by the House Health Sub-Committee chaired by state Representative Ryan Williams(R-Cookeville.)   Click here to immediately contact the members of the sub-committee and urge their strong support for HB 1368 by Rep. Susan Lynn.  House Bill 1368 would require that abortion facilities be licensed and inspected as ambulatory surgical centers and held to the same standards for health and safety. Continue reading

National Right to Life releases new report examining the current status of abortion in the United States WASHINGTON – Today, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, released its second annual report examining “The State of Abortion in America.” The report summarizes key legislative developments at the state and federal level, finds that the annual number of abortions continues to decline, and shows that a majority continue to oppose the vast majority of abortions allowed under the doctrine of Roe v. Wade. “While recent reports show a significant decrease in the annual number of abortions, tragically, nearly 3,000 unborn children are still killed every day in the United States,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “As we prepare to observe the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade and its companion case, Doe v. Bolton, the pro-life movement stands ready to make tremendous gains in 2015 on behalf of mothers and their unborn children.” Continue reading