Texas Representatives call on Gov. Perry to extend session for Pro-Life legislation

Texas Right to Life is so proud of the Pro-Life Whip in the Texas House of Representatives, Representative Bryan Hughes, who drafted and circulated the following letter for signatures from his colleagues to urge Pro-Life Governor Rick Perry to again lead on protecting Life.  64 of the 150 House members joined Pro-Life Whip Hughes on the letter.

If a special session is called (after the enormously disappointing 83rd Regular Session that ends on Memorial Day during which no Pro-Life legislation was passed), Governor Perry may call legislators back to address some unfinished business.  Along with the 62 legislators, Texas Right to Life considers the approximately 80,000 tiny Texans who will be aborted this year to be unfinished business.

Pro-Life legislators are frustrated and saddened about being denied the opportunity to pass laws that protect the health and safety of women and safeguard our most vulnerable unborn Texans.  Our Pro-Life State House members are eager to work – even if they have to stay longer in Austin – with our Pro-Life Governor and Pro-Life Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst to enact new Pro-Life laws during a possible special session.

May 24, 2013

Dear Governor Perry,

Thank you for the strong stands you take for life and for liberty.  The undersigned members of the House share your commitment to protect the sanctity of human life.  Despite an overwhelming pro-life majority in the House, not a single pro-life bill filed during this 83rd session reached the House floor.

Since pro-life values are fundamental to us, and since the majority of Texans share these convictions, we are not willing to give up the fight.  In the struggle to defend life, we cannot take a day off – much less a legislative session.

In light of the increasing likelihood of a Special Session, we ask that you exercise your constitutional power and add pro-life bills to the call.

More specifically, we ask that you add the following matters to the call:

1.Protection of pain-capable unborn children from abortion at 20 weeks gestation;

2.Protection of women and unborn children by requiring abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as ambulatory surgical centers; and

3.Protection of women and unborn children by requiring abortion doctors to secure and maintain privileges at an emergency room within thirty miles of the facility where they commit abortions.

4. Legislation ensuring that any Health Insurance Exchange (whether state or federal) set up in Texas does not include coverage for abortion.

On these matters of life, the will of the people has been frustrated thus far in the Regular Session. By adding these fundamentally important issues to the special session agenda, you can enable your pro-life House Members to defend innocent human life.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of our request, and thank you for your service to Texas.

Sincerely,

Representative George Lavender

House District 1

Representative Dan Flynn

House District 2

Representative Cecil Bell, Jr.

House District 3

Representative Lance Gooden

House District 4

Representative Bryan Hughes

House District 5

Representative Matt Schaefer

House District 6

Representative David Simpson

House District 7

Representative Jim Pitts

House District 10

Representative Kyle Kacal

House District 12

Representative Lois Kolkhorst

House District 13

Representative Steve Toth

House District 15

Representative Brandon Creighton

House District 16

Representative Tim Kleinschmidt

House District 17

Representative James White

House District 19

Representative Marsha Farney

House District 20

Representative Greg Bonnen

House District 24

Representative Dennis Bonnen

House District 25

Representative Rick Miller

House District 26

Representative Ed Thompson

House District 29

Representative Geanie Morrison

House District 30

Representative Scott Turner

House District 33

Representative J. M. Lozano

House District 43

Representative Jason Isaac

House District 45

Representative Harvey Hilderbran

House District 53

Representative Jimmie Don Aycock

House District 54

Representative Charles "Doc" Anderson

House District 56

Representative Trent Ashby

House District 57

Representative Rob Orr

House District 58

Representative Jim Keffer

House District 60

Representative Phil King

House District 61

Representative Larry Phillips

House District 62

Representative Tan Parker

House District 63

Representative Ron Simmons

House District 65

Representative Van Taylor

House District 66

Representative Jeff Leach

House District 67

Representative Drew Springer

House District 68

Representative James Frank

House District 69

Representative Scott Sanford

House District 70

Representative Charles Perry

House District 83

Representative Phil Stephenson

House District 85

Representative John Smithee

House District 86

Representative Four Price

House District 87

Representative Jodie Laubenberg

House District 89

Representative Stephanie Klick

House District 91

Representative Jonathan Stickland

House District 92

Representative Matt Krause

House District 93

Representative Diane Patrick

House District 94

Representative Bill Zedler

House District 96

Representative Craig Goldman

House District 97

Representative Giovanni Capriglione

House District 98

Representative Stefani Carter

House District 102

Representative Linda Harper-Brown

House District 105

Representative Pat Fallon

House District 106

Representative Angie Chen Button

House District 112

Representative Cindy Burkett

House District 113

Representative Bennett Ratliff

House District 115

Representative Dan Huberty

House District 127

Representative John Davis

House District 129

Representative Allen Fletcher

House District 130

Representative Bill Callegari

House District 132

Representative Jim Murphy

House District 133

Representative Tony Dale

House District 136

Representative Dwayne Bohac

House District 138

Representative Debbie Riddle

House District 150

Click and follow this link to download this urgent letter –>