The radical late-term abortion bill, HB-51 passed out of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Saturday on a party-line vote of 3-2. Almost 100 pro-life supporters from across the state, as far as Roswell came to testify in defense of women, children and doctors.
We have received a tentative schedule indicating HB 51 will be heard before the House Judiciary committee on Friday. Until the schedule is official, there are no additional details at this time. Please look out for future email updates and real time updates on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
It will be an uphill battle getting it through the Judiciary Committee, with a wide ratio of pro-abortion legislators to pro-life legislators, outnumbering them 10:4.
It is critical that you continue to show your public opposition to this dangerous bill and share this information with everyone you know. It's also important to continue making calls, emails and tentatively planning to testify in person this Friday, February 1, 2019 in opposition to this dangerous, abortion-up to birth bill. Get the facts on HB 51 here, and also a radical end of life bill, HB 90/SB 153 that is also headed to the Judiciary Committee for a hearing. HB90/153 seeks to allow non-physicians to prescribe lethal drugs, and could limit access to medical care by insurance companies who deem life-saving treatment more costly than lethal drugs.
Please reach out to members of the House Judiciary Committee with your concerns about both anti-life bills: House Bill 51 and House Bill 90. Click on their names, and you will find their contact information:
Please make sure to include 1-3 points below in your calls, emails and testimony to these legislators. We also encourage you to include any personal experiences in relation to the concerns about HB 51:
HB-51 Does Not Protect WomenThe majority of New Mexicans oppose allowing abortions after 5 months up to birth (70%). HB 51 puts all risk of abortion on women’s shoulders by stripping legal protections, including a consent requirement. HB 51 strips away the requirement that only licensed physicians can perform abortions. HB 51 keeps dangerous late-term abortions, up to birth, legal for any reason. The risk of death or serious injury to women increases to 76.6% in abortions after 5 months. 42 states (and D.C.) protect women and unborn children from non-medically necessary, dangerous late-term abortions. Abortion procedures should NOT be an exception to quality standards of care.
HB-51 Does Not Protect ChildrenThe majority of New Mexicans support parental involvement in a minor's abortion, (67%). HB 51 guarantees that parents will NOT be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion. HB 51 allows sex traffickers and child abusers to take a pregnant minor for an abortion, without any parental knowledge or involvement. 37 states protect children by requiring parental involvement for minors seeking abortions. New Mexico must prioritize children’s safety. We need for more, not less, parental involvement. Surgical abortion is an invasive medical procedure. No child should be left alone to decide.
HB-51 Does Not Protect Doctors The majority of New Mexicans do not believe medical professionals and hospitals should be forced to participate in abortions. HB 51 strips away the only explicit conscience protection for doctors and other medical professionals that protect them from being forced to participate in abortions. HB 51 puts doctors at risk to lose their medical license and face criminal prosecution or other sanctions. 46 states have abortion-related conscience protections since federal protections are limited. Medical professionals should not have to worry that the state of New Mexico and private companies could have the power to force them to choose between their faith and their profession. New Mexicans must work together to preserve conscience protections for our valued medical professionals.
It is crucial when writing your letter to tie in any of the above points with a personal story to show each representative that there are real people who will be injured by HB-51 if passes in its current form.
Thank you again, for your unwavering commitment to protecting precious lives in New Mexico. Together, we can and will defeat radical legislation that compromises our families and medical professionals.
NMAFL will diligently let you know when the next committee hearing on HB-51 is set so that you can be there in person to give them your testimony!