IL Governor J.B. Pritzker Signs Sweeping Abortion Bill Into Law

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Contact: Regina D’Amico

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ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE ACTION RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER SIGNING ABORTION BILL INTO LAW

June 12, 2019 – (CHICAGO) Illinois Right to Life Action responded at a press conference on Wednesday to the signing of SB 25, the sweeping late-term abortion bill, by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. This followed a press conference at which the Governor and others celebrated the bill’s signing.

“Governor Pritzker showed Illinois residents today that his gubernatorial record will be no different than Governor Rauner’s,” said Mary Kate Knorr, spokeswoman for Illinois Right to Life Action. “It’s a tale as old as time. Illinois politicians are more concerned with pandering to cash-wielding progressives and Chicago media outlets than they are with representing the people of our state. Pritzker doesn’t care what the people of Illinois want, nor does he care that abortion takes a human life.”

According to legal analysis of SB 25, the radical legislation maintains the core elements of the so-called Reproductive Health Act (HB 2495) and lays the ground work for the repeal of Illinois Parental Notification (HB 2467). SB 25 expressly strips all rights from unborn children, changes the definition of viability, and legalizes abortions through all nine months of pregnancy, up to the moment of birth, for any reason. Any restrictions or regulations on abortion are effectively eliminated.

Emily Kelly, a neonatal ICU nurse at a major Chicago hospital, stated, “This bill is a horrible contradiction of fundamental scientific truths and the work that I do every single day. Under this law, every single one of my patients could be legally killed in utero in our state.”

Non-physicians will be allowed to perform chemical abortions. Licensing and health and safety inspections for abortion clinics will be eliminated. Meanwhile, private health insurance policies – including those for religious organizations – will be forced to cover all abortions, without exemptions.

Creating a “fundamental right” to abortion, SB 25 also threatens the current Parental Notice of Abortion Act, requiring the parents of a minor girl to be notified forty-eight hours prior to having an abortion.

“The celebratory glee that proponents had for passage of the extreme late term abortion bill only confirms that they don’t want abortions to be safe and rare, but only legal and paid for by our tax dollars,” said Ralph Rivera, legislative chairman for Illinois Right to Life Action. “What joy can there be in the killing of unborn babies?”

The abortion legislation will take effect immediately. For an analysis of SB 25, visit: http://illinoisrighttolife.org/sb-25-heres-what-the-abortion-bill-will-do/

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Illinois Right to Life Action is the state’s go-to organization for pro-life lobbying and information on defeating pro-abortion bills.  We are highly trusted by pro-life political leaders and citizens alike to be their life affirming voice in the Illinois General Assembly.