Friday, July 6, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Makes Alternatives to Abortion Program Permanent
Legislation Keeps Abortion Providers Out of Classrooms
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today made the Alternatives to Abortion Program permanent and took action that will keep abortion providers like Planned Parenthood out of Missouri’s classrooms. Gov. Blunt signed legislation at Concord Baptist Church that enacts the provisions to further protect the sanctity of human life.
"All life is precious and needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect," Gov. Blunt said. "I commend Rep. Therese Sander and Sen. Delbert Scott on their work to protect the rights of the most vulnerable members of our society. I will continue working with the Missouri General Assembly to pass strong pro-life legislation that respects the sanctity and dignity of all human life."
"We here at Concord Baptist Church have prayed, preached, worked, and gone to the polls so that the lives of precious little ones may be saved. This is legislation that we can celebrate. House Bill 1055 will result in fewer abortions in Missouri. It is a good fair law that makes sense. I am excited to host Governor Blunt as he signs this progressive piece of legislation," said Dr. Monte Shinkle, senior pastor at Concord Baptist Church.
House Bill 1055, sponsored by Rep. Therese Sander, makes the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Services Program permanent and establishes the Missouri Alternatives to Abortion Public Awareness Program to provide services and counseling to pregnant women and assistance to women caring for their children or placing them up for adoption.
The legislation bans abortion providers like Planned Parenthood from Missouri’s classrooms. The new law prohibits abortion providers from teaching in Missouri classrooms. The ban ensures students learn information about sexual health and education from their teachers, parents and physicians, and not organizations that support or could profit from abortions.
The legislation also amends the definition of ambulatory surgical centers to include any entities operated for the purpose of performing or inducing any second or third trimester abortions, or at least five or more first trimester abortions per month.
"House Bill 1055 accomplishes three objectives that have eluded the pro-life community for years. It gets abortion providers out of our public school classrooms as sex educators, adds safeguards for women’s health by regulating all abortion clinics in the state, and codifies in statute the Alternatives to Abortion Services Programs that have been funded through the appropriations process for the last several years," Rep. Therese Sander said. "In the Carnahan years, abortion providers were allowed to access funds that pro-life legislators had budgeted for Alternatives to Abortion. Now there is a clear destination program for such funding and women facing crisis pregnancies will benefit because of that."
"Missourians can be proud we have again passed and the governor has signed legislation that respects the sanctity of life," Sen. Delbert Scott said. "This legislation is a positive step forward for Missouri families, Missouri women, and for Missourian’s shared pro-life and pro-family values."
Since taking office the governor has worked to further the cause of life in Missouri. During his first year in office, Blunt signed legislation that strengthened Missouri’s parental consent law; enacted important safety standards by requiring physicians who perform abortions to have hospital privileges within 30 miles of the clinic where they perform the procedure; and ensured "next friends," those who have the authority to provide consent for abortions for minors, cannot be another minor or someone who would financially benefit from the abortion. Last year he signed legislation authorizing an income tax credit for 50 percent of contributions to qualified pregnancy resource centers who provide assistance, support and an opportunity to choose life for women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy.
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