Mueller Lake Park Outdoor Amphitheater
Oppose Reproductive Restriction
RECEIVED Fri., April 9, 2021
Dear Editor,
Texas legislators should prioritize the global COVID-19 pandemic this legislative session, rather than attack women’s reproductive freedom with additional abortion restrictions. Texas has dozens of restrictions that create systemic obstacles for people seeking an abortion, yet each legislative session lawmakers continue to push for medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions with one politically motivated goal – to ban abortion in Texas by overturning Roe v. Wade (1973).
Senate Bill 8 and its companion House Bill 1515 would prevent a woman from having an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can be as early as six weeks. Most women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, so the “heartbeat bill” would effectively ban abortion in the state without any exceptions for rape or incest. In addition, the bill would allow any Texan to have standing to sue an abortion provider if they thought they were in violation of Texas laws, which would pave the way for frivolous lawsuits. This would allow a rapist to sue their victim’s doctor, rape counselor, and family.
Senate Bill 394 and its companion House Bill 2337 would ban pill-induced abortions after seven weeks. Guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration have approved the use of abortion pills until 10 weeks. In 2019, nearly 40% of abortions in Texas were pill-induced, according to state statistics.
Abortion is a basic health care necessity for millions of women who become pregnant and is known to be safer than childbirth. A study from Obstetrics & Gynecology found that the risks associated with childbirth outweigh the risks associated with abortion by 14 times.
I encourage you to contact your elected officials to voice your opposition to SB 8/HB 1515 and SB 394/HB 2337.
Texas legislators should prioritize the global COVID-19 pandemic this legislative session, rather than attack women’s reproductive freedom with additional abortion restrictions. Texas has dozens of restrictions that create systemic obstacles for people seeking an abortion, yet each legislative session lawmakers continue to push for medically unnecessary and burdensome restrictions with one politically motivated goal – to ban abortion in Texas by overturning Roe v. Wade (1973).
Senate Bill 8 and its companion House Bill 1515 would prevent a woman from having an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can be as early as six weeks. Most women do not know they are pregnant at six weeks, so the “heartbeat bill” would effectively ban abortion in the state without any exceptions for rape or incest. In addition, the bill would allow any Texan to have standing to sue an abortion provider if they thought they were in violation of Texas laws, which would pave the way for frivolous lawsuits. This would allow a rapist to sue their victim’s doctor, rape counselor, and family.
Senate Bill 394 and its companion House Bill 2337 would ban pill-induced abortions after seven weeks. Guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration have approved the use of abortion pills until 10 weeks. In 2019, nearly 40% of abortions in Texas were pill-induced, according to state statistics.
Abortion is a basic health care necessity for millions of women who become pregnant and is known to be safer than childbirth. A study from Obstetrics & Gynecology found that the risks associated with childbirth outweigh the risks associated with abortion by 14 times.
I encourage you to contact your elected officials to voice your opposition to SB 8/HB 1515 and SB 394/HB 2337.
CARISA BALMOS
