by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe
Conservatives vehemently defend the right to life, and we are continuing to fight for that foundational right this 68th session. We have heard several important bills designed to protect unborn children. One bill prevents tax dollars from funding abortions. Another prevents abortions of viable unborn children. A third bill adopts the Infant Safety and Care Act. Collectively, these bills will help to limit abortions to only the most extreme circumstances, thus, protecting our most vulnerable Montana citizens.
House Bill 862, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins – Missoula, prevents the use of public funds to pay for abortions — with a few exceptions. The first exception is if the pregnancy results from rape or incest. The other exception is if the woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself that would place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Outside of those reasons, HB862 will not allow public funds to be used for an abortion.
House Bill 575, sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway – Great Falls, prohibits the abortion of unborn viable children unless necessary to save the life of the mother. A determination of viability must be made in writing by the physician or physician’s assistant performing the abortion. The determination must also be based on the best available science and survival data, with viability presumed at 24 weeks gestational age and any period of time after that. This commonsense legislation saves lives.
House Bill 625, sponsored by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe – Billings, creates The Infant Safety and Care Act. This act establishes that an infant born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion is a legal person for all purposes under Montana laws and is entitled to all protections under these laws. A child who survives an abortion would receive palliative or appropriate medical care as any other child who is born would receive.
Defending life is a top priority of Republicans this session. These bills, designed to do just that, offer multiple solutions and avenues to protect the unborn. The combination of these efforts not only defends life and protects the unborn, it also preserves the very foundation of the Constitution — the right to life.
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