Texas Catholic Voice: May 10

Contact House Calendars Committee and ask them to set SB 394!

This is the week when many bills die, as House bills have to be set by Tuesday. While we would like House bills to be set, the reality is by the time most of you read this, time has run out for House bills, so this issue focuses on Senate bills being heard in the House.

The TCCB is working with our colleagues and partners on many bills, but our priority this week is SB 394, which enhances the safety of medical abortion for women and prevents remote prescribing or over-the-counter use without a physical examination, ultrasound, or labs.

We are seeing more news stories about the likelihood that the Biden administration will change the FDA rules regarding use of remote prescribing for abortion. There is an increased urgency to protect women in Texas from the complications of this kind of abortion.

In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the distribution and use of mifepristone. Mifeprex is the brand name for mifepristone or RU-486. It blocks progesterone receptors and causes the death of the baby. Misoprostol is taken one to two days later and causes uterine contractions which expel the baby. This type of abortion is called “chemical abortion” or “drug-induced abortion.”

Our current state regulations regarding chemical abortion are based on the FDA REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy). If the REMS are eliminated, women will be harmed and further exploited by the abortion industry for huge profit.

Moreover, without this bill abortions will increase, especially telemedicine abortions on minor girls, potentially without parental consent. It is essential the Texas Legislature pass this bill now to prevent abortion expansion this fall.

This bill creates state level protocol and procedures on abortion-inducing drugs that are independent of the FDA REMS. It's urgent that SB 394 moves forward. Please contact the House Calendars Committee on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of this week and ask them to set SB 394.

House Calendars Committee members are Representatives Dustin Burrows (chair), Joe Moody (vice-chair), Tom Craddick, Cody Harris, Cole Hefner, Ana Hernandez, Ben Leman, Jared Patterson, Toni Rose, Shelby Slawson and James Talarico. Their contact information is available here.

Likewise, it's important SB 650 moves forward. This bill prohibits governmental entities from funding any logistical support for assisting a woman with procurement of an abortion. The TCCB supports this bill to prevent taxpayers from funding any aspect of accessing an abortion.

Essential caregiver visitation

One of the lessons we learned from the pandemic is the need for support of family and other loved ones. Please let your Senator know you support SB 25 and SJR 19. These pieces of legislation establish the right of residents in nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and state supported living centers to essential caregiver visitation. SB 25 directs HHSC to develop guidelines to assist facilities in establishing essential caregiver visitation policies and procedures including at least two hour daily visits, social distancing, PPE, health screenings, viral testing, and contact tracing. The TCCB supports this bill and SJR 19, a joint resolution, to promote the health and well-being of the vulnerable and elderly.