The first piece of anti-abortion legislation that has been filed in Austin comes from senator Charles Schwertner, who represents Brazos County.
Schwertner told WTAW News “There is a issue of fetal issue donation in the state of Texas in making sure there’s a proper amount of regulation is in place from a state perspective so that we’re not allowing fetal tissue to be sold for profit. That’s really abhorrent and it should not be allowed.”
Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 8 include Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham.
Click below for comments from Charles Schwertner, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver:
News release from state senator Charles Schwertner:
Senator Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown) filed Senate Bill 8, known as the ‘Pre-Born Protection and Dignity Act.’ If passed, SB 8 would ban the sale of fetal tissue from elective abortions and prohibit partial-birth abortion in state law.
“The idea that anyone would seek to profit from the sale of fetal tissue is beyond abhorrent…it’s evil,” said Schwertner. “The Pre-Born Protection and Dignity Act I’ve filed today will put a definitive end to the sale or exchange of fetal tissue and outlaw the barbaric practice of partial-birth abortion in state law.”
Senate Bill 8 comes in the wake of a series of videos released last summer showing senior Planned Parenthood executives casually discussing the potential sale of fetal tissue to benefit the organization’s bottom line. On July 29, 2015, Senator Schwertner convened an emergency hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services to investigate the business practices of Planned Parenthood and examine the regulatory framework governing the sale or donation of aborted fetal tissue.
“People of conscience can’t stand by while unborn babies are monetized and traded like some sort of perverse commodity,” continued Schwertner. “The state has a moral obligation to protect our most vulnerable Texans — a group that certainly includes the unborn. As we enter the session, I’m confident the Texas Legislature will continue to stand for the sanctity of innocent life and adopt the kind of pro-life policies that are consistent with Texas values.”
Establishing a state ban the sale of fetal tissue was a key priority of Governor Greg Abbott’s LIFE Initiative, which he announced in August 2015. Senate Bill 8 also carries the support of several prominent pro-life organizations, including Texas Right to Life, the Texas Alliance for Life, the Texans for Life Coalition, and the Texas Catholic Conference.
Joining Senator Schwertner in authoring the Pre-Born Protection and Dignity Act (SB 8) are Senators Donna Campbell, MD (R-New Braunfels), Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), and Charles Perry (R-Lubbock).