Dear Friends for Life,

The members of West Virginians for Life have worked tirelessly to pass legislation that saves lives and challenges the legal standards being used to uphold the Supreme Court Abortion Decisions. The most important piece of legislation to do that is the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which has been introduced in the West Virginia legislature as H.B. 2568.

This bill puts the unborn child at the center of the debate and introduces the concept that the state has a compelling interest in protecting this child from pain. Since medical science demonstrates that the unborn child is fully capable of feeling pain by 20 weeks after fertilization, the bill protects children from abortion beginning at this time. West Virginia has laws that protect children from the pain of child abuse, and this bill recognizes that the protection from pain should begin at 20 weeks in the womb.

This year, the legislative session is of historic proportions. For the first time in 80 years, the Republicans are in the majority in both houses. West Virginians for Life is confident that the new leadership will pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Under the leadership of Speaker of the House Tim Armstead, H.B. 2568 was passed with bipartisan support 87 to 12 out of the House of Delegates. Voting for it were all Republicans, two-thirds of the Democrats, and 17 of the 19 women delegates.

The bill passed in the Senate on February 25 by a 29-5 margin. It’s in the Governor’s hands now.

We would not be in this position if it were not for the hard work of our lobbyist in Charleston, John Carey, not to mention the added help from WVFL Political Liaison Karen Cross and those who testified at our public hearings (National Right to Life Counsel Jennifer Popik, J.D., and Drs. Byron Calhoun and Michael Rollins).  It is expensive to do this work, but, with your help, we will be able to continue to make an impact on the legislative events in Charleston. Thank you for your continuing support of our work. If you are able, make a donation here.

Our next big event is the 17th Annual Rose Dinner. For all the details, click here. I hope to see you at Lakeview on March 27th.

Sincerely,

Wanda Franz, Ph.D.
West Virginians for Life President