Members of the Texas Senate committee that voted today to increase restrictions on abortion also say they want more support for preventive care, family planning and adoption services in Texas.
Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee do not agree on the legislation that would ban abortion in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy and add requirements for clinics and doctors performing the procedure.
The committee passed the measure today strictly along party lines, with Republicans in favor.
But members did find common ground on the need to help the thousands of children born from unwanted pregnancies.
“Making certain that this debate doesn’t stop here is another thing altogether,” said Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas . And I think all of us as Texans want to make sure that, yes, we reduce abortions, but to the extent that there are babies being born, we need to make sure we take care of them, too.”
Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, agreed.
“We need to devote financial resources, and we need to invest in preventive care, and we need to invest in family planning,” Nelson said. “One of my prime goals during this interim for this committee is to work towards that goal.”
The full Senate will debate the abortion bill and give it a preliminary vote tomorrow.
