Lawmakers in the Montana House Judiciary Committee advanced three pro-life protections bills last week, including a bill that would protect preborn children from D&E “dismemberment” abortions, a bill that would ensure medical protections for infants born alive after a botched abortion, and a bill that would mandate reporting requirements for chemical abortions.
House Bill 721 would prohibit dismemberment abortions (also known as dilation and evacuation, or D&E abortions). This abortion is a brutal procedure in which the child is torn from the womb limb by limb. House Speaker Matt Regier, the bill’s sponsor, called the procedure “barbaric.”
“This bill is not to stop a woman from obtaining an abortion. The abortion debate is a very important debate and is one that Montanans will have here in the future,” Regier said. “The choice before you is one about procedure and one procedure only, and that is a dismemberment abortion procedure.”
House Bill 625, the Infant and Care Safety Act, also passed the committee Tuesday morning. That bill would require abortionists to provide life-saving medical care to an infant born alive following an abortion, regardless of the “viability” of the infant. Montana voters defeated a similar ballot measure in November.
“A civilized society should never deny lifesaving, medically necessary care to any child born alive, including one who survives an attempted abortion,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe.
Abortion supporters fought back against the bill — though state statistics, Centers for Disease Control data, and medical professionals alike reveal that babies have been born alive following botched abortion attempts. Often, the fate of these children remains unclear.
“[T]he idea that infants are killed following an abortion is a dangerous lie intended to stigmatize abortion and demonize patients and providers. House Bill 625 is just another tired attempt of legislators trying to interfere with private and personal medical decisions that should be between a patient and their health care provider,” said Julia Maxon with the group Montana Women Vote.
Lastly, lawmakers advanced House Bill 786, which would require abortionists to inform women about the risks associated with the abortion pill. The law would also mandate abortion providers to keep detailed records related to the abortions they commit.
All three bills now head to the full House for consideration.
