By: Ken Camp
Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed into law the fetal heartbeat bill, tweeted about the ruling, “Another legal loss for those challenging SB8—the pro-life law that is saving babies every day.”
Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life, called the court’s ruling “a substantial pro-life victory for Texas in federal courts.”
By: Jonah McKeown
Texas Alliance for Life characterized the ruling as a victory, but noted that thousands of abortions are still performed each year in Texas because of the legal framework of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973.
“We look forward to a ruling by the Supreme Court in June that could potentially overturn Roe v. Wade. If that happens, another law, the Human Life Protection Act, will go into effect, completely protecting unborn babies from abortion beginning at conception,” said executive director Joe Pojman.
The Texas Heartbeat Act, in effect since September 2021, bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat except in medical emergencies. Instead of providing for enforcement by the state — which would likely be declared unconstitutional in court — the law relies on private lawsuits filed by citizens to enforce the ban. This framework allows for awards of at least $10,000 for plaintiffs who successfully sue those who perform or aid and abet abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
By: Lindsey Ragas
We reached out to those for and against abortion.
“It’s a big victory for the pro-life side. It’s a big victory for the Texas Heartbeat Act. It means that this law is essentially going to be in effect indefinitely unless some other challenges comes,” Joe Pojman, Executive Director of Texas Alliance for Life.
We did not hear back from pro-choice organizations by the deadline.
By: BRAD JOHNSON
For anti-abortion activists, this time constraint is a big step in the right direction.
“Our goal is to create a society where no woman would even consider having an abortion because she believes there is no alternative. We have vast alternatives,” said Joe Pojman, Founder of Texas Alliance for Life.
Instead of seeking an abortion, Pojman wants pregnant women to visit the nearly 200 crisis pregnancy centers in Texas, where he says they can find support.
By: Ali Linan CNHI Texas Statehouse Reporter
During the 2021 legislative session, the state increased the program’s budget 25%, allotting $100 million over two years. According to state estimates, this would provide assistance for more than 150,000 pregnant people each year, far more than the 55,000 that received an abortion in 2020.
In his 2021 interim charges, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named expanded funding and resources for this program as one of his top priorities.
“I think that kind of puts things in perspective from the point of view of Texas legislature’s goals to protect unborn babies from abortion and provide tremendous resources for women with unplanned pregnancies,” Executive Director for Texas Alliance for Life Joe Pojam said.
By: Deana Mitchell
For anti-abortion activists, this time constraint is a big step in the right direction.
“Our goal is to make a society such that no woman would even consider having an abortion because she feels there are no alternatives. We do have vast alternatives,” said Joe Pojman, founder of Texas Alliance for Life.
Instead of seeking an abortion, Pojman wants pregnant women to visit Texas’ nearly 200 crisis pregnancy centers, where he says they can find support.
Brittany Green-Benningfield, who heads the Pflugerville Pregnancy Resource Center, said such groups offer a variety of resources for pregnant women.
“So this is our baby boutique for our moms,” she said while offering a tour of the center. “This is where, when they come and take lessons with us, they get an opportunity to shop. Through classes, they earn points, and then they are able to take what they need. We have a licensed sonographer, and she provides ultrasounds for any of our clients that come in. We are giving our moms a first glimpse to see their baby.”
The centers also help women make doctor’s appointments and offer things like canned goods until the child is 2-and-a-half to 3 years old. Pojman said it’s all a big step in the right direction, but that much more work is needed.
“While the number of abortions has substantially decreased and women are seeking more agencies that provide alternatives to abortions, there are still tens of thousands of abortions in Texas going on,” he said.