Legislation Will Protect Women By Increasing Standards On Abortion Clinics
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: January 28, 2013
Today, Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) announced State.
Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin (R-Indian Springs) as sponsor of the Women's
Health and Safety Act, or House Bill 57.
"Rep.
McClurkin has consistently been a strong advocate for children and
women during her
tenure in the legislature," stated Speaker Hubbard. "Her tireless
efforts to protect the right to life make her a perfect sponsor for this
bill."
The
bill was pre-filed today as part of the House Republican Caucus' 2013
Legislative Agenda,
"We Dare Defend Our Rights." The bill serves as the centerpiece bill of
the "We Dare Defend Our Right to Life" section of the agenda.
"Abortions
are, sadly, legal in this country. Given this unfortunate truth,
common sense should tell us that an abortion clinic should be held to
the same high standards as any medical office that practices invasive
procedures," McClurkin said. "We must ensure that dangerous,
unregulated, fly-by-night clinics will be shut down because,
sadly, the state of Alabama has more health regulations in place to
protect your cat or dog at a vet clinic."
Statistics show that abortion centers, on average, operate at an alarming
level of non-compliance with acceptable standards of medical care, putting abortion patients at unreasonable risk.
Consequently,
Alabama is in dire need of a comprehensive set of statutory
standards that ensure women are treated in a safe environment that is
able to respond to medical emergencies often associated with invasive
medical procedures.
The Women's Health and Safety Act would require abortion clinics to meet the same standards
as emergency health care centers and would place stronger requirements on doctors who perform the procedures.
The
legislation also provides strong enforcement mechanisms against
abortion
clinics unable or unwilling to meet the reasonable and medically
appropriate health and safety standards set for these facilities.
The
House Republican Caucus recently announced a legislative agenda based
upon the state
motto - "We Dare Defend Our Rights" - and intended to preserve the
conservative beliefs and values that Alabamians hold dear. The bills in
the agenda, including McClurkin's measure, will be among the first
considered and passed by the Alabama House once the
2013 regular session convenes on February 5.
For additional information on the Women's Health and Safety Act please visit: www.alhousegop.com/wedaredefend.
The full bill is attached.
