Chairman Goodlatte: Supreme Court Has Abandoned Those Who Have No Voice — The Unborn

Washington, D.C.— House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released a statement following the Supreme Court’s 5-3 decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt: Chairman Goodlatte: “Every human life is sacred and precious, and should be protected from the horrors of abortion. Today, the Supreme Court has abandoned those who have no voice — the unborn.“It is truly appalling that the Court has refused to take action against such a horrible, barbaric practice.  The State of Texas passed a law that would protect the interests of women, as well as the unborn, from the horrific Gosnell-like conditions within abortion clinics that have been well documented throughout the abortion industry. Abortion practitioners have operated outside the bounds of the law for far too long, and Texas attempted to pass legitimate, common sense protections for the mother and her unborn child. The Court ignored these concerns and struck down these life-saving efforts.“While the Court has failed to protect the health and safety of a mother and her unborn child, the House Judiciary Committee will continue its fight against the atrocities of abortion by advancing federal legislation that is in the best interests of women’s health and the health of unborn children.”Background: Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt questioned the constitutionality of a Texas law (H.B. 2), which requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital, and requires abortion clinics to have facilities comparable to an outpatient surgical center. The need for this legislation arose from a similar law proposed in Pennsylvania that required abortion clinics to comply with the same regulations as outpatient surgical centers. This recommendation was part of a grand jury’s investigation in the trial of Kermit Gosnell, a physician who ran an abortion clinic in Philadelphia, which had not been actively supervised by state or local authorities, or by other medical professionals. Gosnell was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder of three infants who were born alive and for the manslaughter of a patient. The Court was asked to consider whether the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals erred in upholding the Texas law. Click here to read the full opinion.Click here to learn more about the House Judiciary Committee’s efforts on pro-life issues.