Senate Bill Calls Abortion “Constitutional Right,” Invalidates State Laws
Late last year U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D – CT) introduced S. 1696, the so-called “Woman’s Health Protection Act of 2013.”
Recently, there has been a buzz about this bill and what it would do.
The bill purports to protect women’s health. In reality it invalidates state laws regarding abortion, names abortion a constitutional right, and opens the door for unsafe abortion practices. Here is how.
S. 1696 Would Likely…
S. 1696 would likely:
- Overturn Arkansas’ ban on taxpayer-funded abortion;
- Challenge Arkansas’ ban on partial-birth abortion;
- Affect Arkansas’ “fetal-pain” law preventing abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy;
- Undermine our informed-consent and parental-consent laws;
- Prevent surgical abortions from being regulated in a sensible manner; and
- Increase access to abortifacients, despite the fact chemical abortions carry significant health risks.
Additionally, the bill
- Repeatedly describes abortion as a constitutional right; and
- Fails to acknowledge abortion may be regulated to protect healthcare providers’ rights of conscience or religious convictions.

The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock announced today that former Bishop Andrew McDonald passed away at the age of 90.