NH finally protects the unborn in the last months of pregnancy

By Sens. Regina Birdsell and Sharon Carson

At long last, New Hampshire has joined the ranks of 43 states that limit the practice of late-term abortion. For too long, we were among a small group of states that provided no protection for unborn children until the moment of birth.

The recently-passed budget bill includes the Fetal Life Protection Act, which limits abortions to the first 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy unless the life, health, or well-being of the mother is endangered. This is in line with most other states, which place limits on abortion late in pregnancy. Most states limit abortions at 18 to 22 weeks. At 24 weeks, the child is considered viable. Testing for major birth defects occurs much earlier in the pregnancy.

The public has consistently and overwhelmingly supported limits on late-term abortion. 79% of voters oppose third trimester abortions (7 months through 9 months). Even 66% of self-described pro-choice voters oppose third trimester abortions. There is plenty of disagreement over abortion early in pregnancy, but most pro-life and pro-choice voters agree that we have a compelling interest to protect innocent lives as they approach the day of birth. Only 6% of people believe that abortion should be allowed up to the time of birth. This is abortion extremism, but it has fueled opposition to New Hampshire’s reasonable new law.

Supporters of late-term abortions complain that we require an ultrasound for doctors to determine fetal age before performing an abortion. But as Lovering Health Center in Greenland recently told New Hampshire Public Radio, “ultrasounds are already routine for most abortions.” And they are covered as prenatal care under New Hampshire insurance policies and ACA plans. In fact, 27 states have some sort of imaging requirement in place, so that doctors can be sure whether the fetus has passed its sixth month and is protected. Doctors acting to save the life or health of the pregnant mother would not be breaking the law.

Supporters of late-term abortions say that by punishing doctors who perform late-term abortions, we will discourage them from practicing in New Hampshire at all. Yet 35 states have criminal penalties for doctors who perform illegal abortions.

Those who support abortion until birth object to any and all protections for the unborn. They objected to setting a viability standard to protect the baby, arguing that it was too vague. Now they object to 24 weeks, arguing it is too rigid. They opposed parental notification requirements to ensure that children would not be seeking abortions without their parents’ knowledge. They even voted against New Hampshire’s ban on partial birth abortion. Now we’re hearing that this late-term abortion law is extreme, even though it’s already in place in 43 other states.

We are proud that New Hampshire has finally become the 44th state to finally protect infants in the 7th, 8th, and 9th month of pregnancy. This is long overdue. Voters have consistently and overwhelmingly supported limits on abortions in the third trimester. They oppose an extreme pro-abortion agenda without any limits up to the moment of birth.

Sen. Regina Birdsell (R-Windham) represents District 19. Sen. Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) represents District 14.

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Minors in New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH – Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), Senator Bill Gannon (R-Sandown), and Senator Daryl Abbas (R-Salem) released the following joint statement on the introduction of HB 619-FN, requiring a person to attain the age of majority for genital gender reassignment surgery:

“Gender reassignment surgery is a life altering decision. This bill prohibits this surgery from being applied to minors. If minors cannot purchase alcohol, cigarettes, or a lottery ticket due to their youth, this surgery should be off the table for them too,” said Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson.

“Many important decisions cannot be made until an adolescent reaches the age of 18. We should not let minors, who are not even old enough to vote yet, be making permanent alterations to their bodies,” added Senator Bill Gannon.

“Countries like England and Sweden that have advanced, radical gender interventions for minors have realized their mistake and are now reversing course. There is no evidence that these surgeries are safe and effective for children,” concluded Senator Daryl Abbas.

Background: HB 619-FN bans genital gender reassignment surgery for minors.

Statement by Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson on Senate Democrats False Claims About Abortion in New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH – Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), issued the following statement today regarding SB 461:

“The bill does not require an ultrasound to establish gestational age any more than it requires a birth certificate to establish the woman’s age.

Like much medical information, gestational age is easily obtained by talking to the patient and asking them questions.

This is just another attempt by Democrats to whip up a frenzy around the abortion issue where one is not warranted. In the past, they have falsely claimed that abortion is restricted in New Hampshire. Now they are doing it with this absurd claim that an ultrasound would be required or that patient privacy is at risk. None of these things are true and they should stop misleading Granite Staters.”

Senate Protects Fetal Life Protection Act

CONCORD, NH – Senate Majority Leader Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), released the following statement today on the Senate voting against SB 461, relative to repealing a construction provision of the fetal life protection act:

“New Hampshire’s current law prevents abortions in the 7th, 8th, and 9th month of pregnancy and nearly 80% of Granite Staters approve of this law. This bill would have repealed RSA 329:49, a one-line statute that says nothing in the Fetal Life Protection Act shall be construed as creating a right to an abortion. This bill would not weaken our current 24-week abortion law, however, what is lacking are accurate statistics on the number of abortions performed in our state.

New Hampshire is an outlier for not recording abortion statistics. 46 states and the District of Columbia require hospitals, facilities, and physicians who provide abortions to submit regular and confidential reports to the state. This bill closes the gap in medical data our state has by requiring confidential reporting of abortion statistics at least annually to the Department of Health and Human Services who will then report the information to the General Court of New Hampshire.”

Background: SB 461 implements data collection on abortion statistics in New Hampshire. This bill does not change the 24-week abortion ban and does not infringe on the confidentiality of women who get abortions. Vital health statistics will now be updated to include abortions in addition to other health data the state already collects.

Senate Supports Cancer Screening Pilot Program for Firefighters

CONCORD, NH – Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), issued the following statement today on the Senate passing SB 352-FN-A, establishing an early detection cancer screening pilot program for active and retired firefighters:

“Our firefighters face a severe cancer risk by doing their jobs. Having an early screening and detection program at their disposal could be lifesaving for them. This pilot program will be vital for our first responders who put their lives on the line to protect our communities. I am grateful my Senate colleagues passed this legislation for Granite State firefighters.”