FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Contact: Heather Cirmo
[email protected]
May 6, 2021, DALLAS – Today, Human Coalition Action celebrated the passage in the Texas House of Representatives of SB 8, a bill that protects preborn children after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Sponsored by Texas State Senator Brian Hughes (R-Tyler) and State Representative Shelby Slawson (R-Stephensville), the bill passed 83-64 in the House after being approved in the Senate in March. It now awaits the governor’s signature to become law.
“The passage of the heartbeat bill is yet another example, of many, that Texas is leading the way in protecting human life,” said Human Coalition Action Texas Legislative Director Chelsey Youman. “A preborn baby’s heartbeat, which is clear evidence of human life, can be detected as early as six weeks. Eighty-four percent of all abortions in Texas occur at eight weeks or less gestation. If a heartbeat law had been in place last year, about 47,500 precious human lives would have been saved. Human Coalition Action applauds the Texas Legislature for allowing beating human hearts to continue to beat.”
Unlike other states’ heartbeat bills, Texas’ version is enforced exclusively through civil causes of action instead of the government. This shields it from a federal court challenge. Human Coalition Action as well as a host of legal experts expressed confidence in the bill’s constitutionality.
Texas is on the cusp of completing its most pro-life session in its legislative history with multiple historic bills awaiting passage in the House after approval by the state Senate. In addition to SB 8, Human Coalition Action actively supported and testified in favor of the Every Mother Matters Act (EMMA) and the Preborn Non-Discrimination Act.
About Human Coalition Action
Human Coalition is one of the largest pro-life organizations in the nation, operating a growing network of Telecare and Brick-and-Mortar Women’s Care Clinics across the nation. Human Coalition Action is the public policy advocacy 501(c)(4) arm of Human Coalition advocating for preborn children by supporting legislators with pro-life policies, informing voters about pro-life candidates, and supporting pro-life legal arguments in the Courts.
###
