NEW ORLEANS – Today, the national pro-life policy organization Americans United for Life (AUL) announced that Louisiana is the most pro-life state in America.
AUL released its 2020 "
Defending Life" report after analyzing progress made legislatively or in litigation in 2019. The annual report contains its annual "Life List ranking all 50 states based on each state's body of law associated with the life issues, ranging from abortion to euthanasia.
AUL's decision to place Louisiana at the top of the list was based on the strong Louisiana pro-life legislation passed in 2019, Louisiana’s role in the upcoming
June Medical Services v. Gee Supreme Court case, the presence of the Love Life Constitutional Amendment on the 2020 ballot, and the continued bipartisan commitment to the pro-life cause.
"We are thankful that Louisiana has been named the most pro-life state in the nation by Americans United for Life," said Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. "In Louisiana, we are proud of our commitment to the protection of every human life and the safeguarding of the health and safety of mothers. We appreciate our Legislature and Gov. Edwards for their steadfast and bipartisan dedication to life as evidenced by pro-life laws enacted in 2019. We also applaud our Attorney General Jeff Landry and his team for their tireless resolve in defending these laws, even to the halls of the Supreme Court. Most importantly, though, we are thankful lives are being saved every day, as Louisiana has seen a 21 percent decrease in abortions in Louisiana since 2014.
"With the upcoming
June Medical Services v. Gee case at the Supreme Court, and the Nov. 3 vote on our Love Life Constitutional Amendment, 2020 will be perhaps the most significant year for the Louisiana pro-life cause. We look forward to working with our citizens to protect babies and help mothers so that every life is welcomed with love and protected by law in Louisiana."
Dorinda Bordlee, Vice President and Senior Counsel of the Bioethics Defense Fund and a Louisiana resident, advises many Louisiana legislators and Louisiana Right to Life on pro-life policy matters. Today, Bordlee said the following on the release of the rankings: "Bioethics Defense Fund is honored to provide legal consultation to legislators and policy groups. The proactive leadership of Louisiana Right to Life makes a big difference in our state for the dignity and well-being of both unborn children and their mothers."
The following is a review of pro-life legislation passed into law in 2019:
- HB 425: The Love Life Constitutional Amendment:
- Passed the Legislature by a 2/3 margin and sent to Secretary of State as Act 447. The amendment will be on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot, where it will need a majority vote to be placed in the Louisiana Constitution.
- This amendment ensures that there is no right to abortion or the taxpayer funding of abortion in our state constitution. Learn more at at www.LoveLifeVoteYes.com.
- SB 184: Unborn Child Heartbeat Protection Act
- Passed the Legislature and signed by the governor as Act 31.
- Prohibits the abortion of an unborn human being with a detectable heartbeat. The enforcement of the law is contingent on federal litigation centered on a similar law in Mississippi.
- HB 484: Protection of Patient Records at Abortion Facilities Act
- Passed the Legislature and signed by governor as Act 435.
- Establishes requirements for abortion facilities to preserve medical records of women upon whom abortions are performed. Especially for minors who are having an abortion due to sexual assault, it is crucial that abortion facilities have these medical record details and are required to report the abuse.
- HB 133: Chemical Abortion Regulation Act
- Passed the Legislature and signed by the governor as Act 376.
- This legislation ensures that the licensing and regulation of abortion will apply equally to providers of all methods of abortion, including both surgical and chemical abortions.
- HB 143: Evie's Law
- Passed the Legislature and signed by the governor as Act 57.
- This legislation ensures that persons with disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome, are not discriminated against when it comes to organ transplants.
- SB 221: Abortion Physician Disclosure Act
- Passed the Legislature and signed by the governor as Act 198.
- Provides women at abortion facilities clear information about the qualifications and disciplinary history of abortion physicians.
- SB 238: Trafficking at Abortion Facility Prevention Act
- Passed the Legislature and signed by the governor as Act 280.
- To require health practitioners and abortion clinic employees to report human trafficking and trafficking of children for sexual purposes to law enforcement.
For further information on AUL's list, please contact them through their press page
https://aul.org/press-kit/ Noah Brandt at press@aul.org or 202-741-4921.
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