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PA State Constitutional Amendment clears committee, onto full vote in the Senate

Jan 26, 2022

By Maria V. Gallagher, Legislative Director, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation

A Constitutional Amendment which would safeguard taxpayer dollars from abortion and keep abortion out of the Pennsylvania Constitution has cleared an important legislative hurdle.

Senate Bill 956 has been reported out of the PA Senate Health & Human Services Committee. That sets the stage for a floor vote by the full Senate.

The Constitutional Amendment is needed because of a lawsuit filed by the abortion industry. That suit, which is now before the PA Supreme Court, is demanding taxpayer funding of abortion and inventing a so-called right to abortion which does not appear in the Commonwealth’s Constitution.

The Amendment would ensure that the people, through their duly-elected representatives in the General Assembly, would decide public policy on the life issues, rather than the courts through judicial fiat.

Without the Amendment, if the PA Supreme Court rules in favor of the abortion industry, Pennsylvania could lose its protective laws such as the Abortion Control Act and the abortion center regulation statute. That would mean no more protection of the preborn child from late-term abortions. It would also mean no more parental consent for abortions or informed consent for women who enter an abortion center’s doors. It would also mean no more 24-hour reflective period, giving women the chance to consult with trusted family members and friends before an abortion can take place.

The Keystone State could also lose regular inspection of abortion facilities, meaning that hair and nail salons would face greater scrutiny than abortion centers.

The Constitutional Amendment would preserve Pennsylvania’s protective laws while ensuring that the public, through their state lawmakers, can enact protective policies regarding the life issues in the future.

The Amendment must pass both the PA House of Representatives and the state Senate in two consecutive sessions before it can be placed on the statewide ballot for voters to decide.

Action Item: If you live in Pennsylvania, please contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support SB 956. You can send a message now by clicking here.

Categories: State Legislation
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