Texas has become the latest Republican-led state to enact a law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law this week that will stop clinics from performing or inducing abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected. The law also allows private citizens to file civil suits against abortion clinics over alleged violations.
“Our creator endowed us with the right to life and yet millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion,” Abbott said. “In Texas, we work to save those lives, and that’s exactly what the Texas legislature did this session. They worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill.”
Under the new law, physicians must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion and “may not knowingly perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman if the physician detected a fetal heartbeat for the unborn child.”
Pro-life @GovAbbott signed the Texas Heartbeat Act into law this morning. Thank you Governor Abbott for valuing and protecting unborn lives in the state of Texas. #sb8 #txlege pic.twitter.com/0b6qzxlQFB
— TexasAllianceforLife (@TXAlliance4Life) May 19, 2021
The Texas Tribune highlighted that the law, by allowing private citizens to file civil suits against abortion providers, contains a first-of-its-kind provision. The law will go into effect in September.
Heartbeat laws across the county have been a step forward in reducing the practice of abortion, and Texas is the latest example. Leaders like Gov. Abbott who are focused on preserving the lives of the unborn deserve our support.
Every American should support laws that help save lives.