Gov. Perry: We Must Continue Working to Make Abortion a Thing of the Past

Gov. Rick Perry gave the keynote address at the annual Texas Alliance for Life Rally, highlighting his proposals for the 83rd Legislative Session to strengthen Texas' protections on life.

"As supporters of life, Texas will continue to take the necessary steps to protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain, in hopes of one day making abortion at any stage a thing of the past," Gov. Perry said. "Unfortunately abortion is the second most common surgical procedure in America, so our work to protect life is far from over. Together we will continue working to strengthen Texas' protections on life and protect the health of both women and their unborn children."

Gov. Perry continues to be a strong advocate for protecting innocent life, calling on the Legislature to pass measures to ban abortions once a baby can feel pain, and strengthen standards of care for women seeking abortions, including requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital, and requiring abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers. He has also signed both parental notification and parental consent laws to ensure parents are involved in their minor daughters' major decisions, enforced a ban that ensures tax dollars are not used to support abortion facilities, supported and signed the Woman's Right to Know Act, and worked with lawmakers to fund and promote safe alternatives to abortion. Last session the governor signed a law requiring physicians to perform a sonogram before performing an abortion, ensuring women deserve to all the information before making such a life-ending decision.