It's OFFICIAL: A Heartbeat Now Stops Abortion in Ohio

Governor DeWine signs Ohio Heartbeat Bill!

For Immediate Release: April 11, 2019

Meg Wittman, Executive Director

Contact: 513-728-7870

On Thursday April 11th, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act in the state of Ohio. This law will prevent doctors from aborting babies with a detectable heartbeat. For over eight years, pro-life advocates in the state of Ohio have been driving this piece of legislation. This is a historic moment in the history of Ohio. We now have a law that will defend unborn babies with beating hearts.

Many amendments were offered on the House floor yesterday just before the final vote, including one backed by representative Boyd and Representative Howse that would exempt African American women from the Heartbeat Bill. This amendment was intended to allow African American women to abort their babies, which is outright racism and eugenics. Fortunately, none of these amendments were accepted.

Hundreds of citizens gave written and in-person testimony for the Heartbeat Bill. This legislation has been scrutinized for years, and our legislators have listened to every side of the debate with patience and fortitude.

“As I watched the final vote yesterday, chills ran through my spine as if I could hear the beating hearts of millions of unborn babies finally drowning out the raucous chants and ruthless rhetoric of the abortion advocates. I was overjoyed and proud to live in a state that has put the will of the people into law and is showing the conviction necessary to defend innocent human life in the womb, where it has been the most persecuted and least protected,” said Meg Wittman, Executive Director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati. “The signing of the Heartbeat Bill today proves that the silent majority of Ohioans support the culture of life. As we continue to defend all life from the first moment of conception, we thank all those who have enabled this seminal step towards protecting babies and mothers.”

Cincinnati Right to Life expects lawsuits to be filed against this bill, claiming it is unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what will happen next in the courtroom.

May God bless all pro-life advocates and our Heartbeat Heroes at home and in the Statehouse for their staunch defense of unborn life.

Press Release from the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio

For Immediate Release April 11, 2019

Contact: Margie Christie, President

937.461.3625

Governor Mike DeWine signs nation's strongest Pro-Life Law

Right to Life Action Coalition applauds

Ohio's Pro-Life Governor

COLUMBUS---In a quiet ceremony this afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law Substitute Senate Bill 23, the "Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act.” The law will take effect in 90 days. Members of the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio joined the Governor to participate in the signing ceremony.

"Governor DeWine continues his lifelong commitment to protecting the unborn with his signature on one of the strongest Pro-Life bills in our nation” remarked Margie Christie, President of the Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio (RTLACO) and Executive Director, Dayton Right to Life. "This law will protect tens of thousands of pre-born Ohioans from the horrors of abortion."

The law prohibits the performance of an abortion upon detection of a fetal heartbeat using standard medical procedures, usually at around six weeks gestation. The law provides a waiver of the requirement should the mother's life be in danger and an abortion is the medically-necessary procedure to protect her life. Violations by medical providers are a fifth-degree felony, and possible fines by the State Medical Board of up to $20,000 can be levied. A provision of the law provides funding for adoption and foster care assistance, utilizing fine monies surrendered by providers.

"It is certain this law will curtail the ongoing slaughter of the most defenseless Ohioans" noted Meg Wittman, Executive Director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati and RTLACO member. "Our pro-life pregnancy care centers are experienced in offering support and assistance to mothers and their babies, and look forward to serving more."

The Ohio Department of Health is directed to write rules within 120 days of the law's enactment to create the standards for detection of the fetal heartbeat.

"We are confident Governor DeWine's Health Director, Dr. Amy Acton, will write solid rules to implement this life saving law" stated Molly Smith, President of Cleveland Right to Life and RTLACO President-Elect. "The Governor has been consistent in his pro-life principles, which we greatly appreciate."

“Governor DeWine has noted the essential function of government is to protect the most vulnerable and that certainly includes the unborn" said Ed Sitter, Executive Director, Greater Toledo Right to Life and past President ofRTLACO, "Governor DeWine carried out that function by affixing his name to the Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act."

Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio is grateful to our grassroots supporters, sidewalk counselors, prayer warriors and member organizations, who have given a voice to the voiceless on this historic day in Ohio.