West Virginia Becomes 14th State to Enact Popular Five Month Abortion Ban

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2015
Contact: Mallory Quigley, [email protected], 202-223-8073

Pro-life Women led the Effort to Pass Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Washington, D.C – West Virginia has become the 14th state to enact a ban on late term abortion after five months – the point at which unborn children can feel pain. The State Senate voted today to override Governor Tomblin’s veto of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) praised the women-led effort.

“The House of Delegates vote to override Governor Tomblin’s shameful veto was the first veto override since 1987. This historic effort is emblematic of the momentum building nationwide to protect children and women in the late stages of pregnancy. Americans are united in their opposition to brutal, barbaric abortions past the point at which the baby can feel pain,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.  “We thank the bold pro-life lawmakers who led this fight. Their efforts reflect the reality that women support this measure in even higher numbers than men.”

West Virginia H.B. 2568 was sponsored by Assistant Majority Whip Kelli Sobonya and by eleven co-sponsors, including Delegates Kayla Kessinger, Saira Blair, Lynne Arvon, Ruth Rowan, Amy Summers, Anna Border-Sheppard and Terry Waxman.  

“As a representative from one of the least regulated states in the country when it comes to abortion, I am proud to have supported and voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” said Delegate Kayla Kessinger, “This is a bill that reaffirms our most basic right to life and society’s responsibility to protect life at all stages of development.”

In addition West Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin are also expected to advance Pain-Capable legislation this year. To date, 14 states have enacted Pain-Capable laws. A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats, support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.


The Susan B. Anthony List and its Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, spent $15.25 million in the 2014 election cycle to defeat pro-abortion incumbents and elect pro-life candidates to federal and statewide office. The SBA List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women.  The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.

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