Missouri Becomes the 5th State to Opt Out of Taxpayer-Funded Abortion with Assistance from AUL

Contact: Matthew Faraci, Americans United for Life, 202-556-1994, press@aul.org

WASHINGTON, May 14 /Standard Newswire/ -- Today, Americans United for Life (AUL) was victorious in the passage of SB 793, a Missouri bill which will prohibit insurance plans participating in new state health insurance exchanges from providing abortion coverage.  The bill also enhances the state's existing informed consent law to ensure that women receive essential information about health risks and alternatives before choosing abortion.

"Today, the people of Missouri are closer than ever to a new law that prevents taxpayer-funded abortion," said Mary Harned, Staff Counsel with Americans United for Life. "This outstanding bill also contains important protections for women in the state who have a right to know that they face serious health risks when choosing abortion."

AUL has been working in the state of Missouri for more than three years to ensure that women considering abortion are provided essential information and given the option to see an ultrasound image before undergoing abortions.  In addition, the bill provides that women contemplating abortion after 20 weeks be given information on the possibility of unborn children feeling pain during abortion.

SB 793 now goes to Governor Nixon for consideration.

FOR THE FACTS, CLICK BELOW

Information on AUL's abortion opt-out measure

Information on the importance of informed consent before abortion

Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971.

AUL's legal team has been involved in every pro-life case before the U.S. Supreme Court including the successful defense of the Hyde Amendment. AUL also publishes Defending Life, the most comprehensive state-by-state legal guide of its kind, which is distributed annually to legislators across the nation.

Recently, Americans United for Life detailed the facts on taxpayer-funding of abortion during the debate over federal health care legislation, provided legal assistance to states working to opt out of abortion provisions created by federal health care law, and has played a major role in educating policymakers on the record of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.