Thread by @PPTXVotes

LIVE NOW: The Texas Legislature is currently debating SB 4, a bill that would ban medication abortion at 7 weeks.

Watch here tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph…

This bill is Abbot and the #txlege's political response to the Biden Administration's FDA's recent decision to reevaluate the REMS.

Medication Abortion is SAFER THAN TYLENOL.

People should be able to access the type of abortion that they and their doctor choose is best.

The state of Texas should not tell doctors what is the best way to practice medicine. This bill is anti-science and creates a CRIMINAL Penalty for doctors.

To access a medical abortion in Texas patients have to get an ultrasound, wait 24 hours and go back to a clinic and see a doctor to get an abortion.

The #txlege has already set so many obstacles for Texans who are trying to access an abortion.

Now @DonnaHowardTX is pointing out how safe medication abortion. And how this medication abortion ban will have an impact on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Now @DonnaHowardTX is asking how the #txlege is expecting Doctors to report on complications patients have in pregnancies that could happen decades after they saw a patient and performed an abortion. If they do not report these complications they could have criminal penalties.

Rep. @DonnaHowardTX asked if Rep. Klick would consider an amendment in case of Medical emergencies and Klick says no she would not.

Now, @ErinForYall is offering an amendment and pointing out that this bill mostly under current law. Rep. Zwiener is stating that you already cannot mail medication abortion. Rep. Zweiner is stating again that this is a SEVEN WEEK BAN.

Rep. @ErinForYall is trying to keep the legislature from going backwards. She points out that most women do not know they are pregnant at 6 or 7 weeks. "This legislation gives people only 4 days of wiggleroom"

"The choice is not between abortion and no abortion. The choice is from a safe procedure to women taking risks to access an abortion" @ErinForYall

Now @DonnaHowardTX is pointing out that this bill is not about safety but rather about creating more obstacles for Texans to access abortion

Rep. @moodyforelpaso pointing out how safe Medication Abortion is. That the FDA found that complications are less than 1%. In fact, complications for all abortions are less than 1%.

@moodyforelpaso is stating that this regulation happens in NO OTHER FIELD OF MEDICINE.

@moodyforelpaso pointing out that this bill was one of the only bills to not get a public hearing this suppression session. The #txlege will pass significant legislation in the cover of night without public input.

Thank you @GinaForAustin for offering an amendment that would remove the impossible reporting requirements that would create criminal penalties for doctors who are trying to provide health care.

Now, @juliejohnsonTX is creating an amendment that would exempt the medicine named in SB 4 that has other uses from the bill. One of these medications is used to treat cancer and other diseases.

Thank you @VoteAnnJohnson for pointing out that the Texas legislature does not have the right to interfere with a doctor and patient's decision to have an abortion.

Now @BucyForTexas is offering an amendment that would stop the legislature from interfering in doctors recommendations as guided by the FDA

Now, @ChrisGTurner is pointing out that medication abortion would be the ONLY drug that the state will regulate over the FDA recommendation.

"We need to follow the science" @DonnaHowardTX is getting into the scientific evidence which is being ignored in SB 4.

👀👀👀 @ErinForYall with a point of order on SB 4

There have been 16 years of study and research to expand medication abortion @VikkiGoodwinTX coming in with the facts on Medication abortion.

Rep. @Jon_RosenthalTX saying we should go with the experts. Thank you @Jon_RosenthalTX for standing up for science.

Thank you Rep. @GFColeman for offering an amendment and championing Planned Parenthood patients

"Politicians should not interfere with a decision made between doctors and their patients" @SherylCole1 before she shares a @lilithfund patients abortion story.

Rep. @RafaelAnchia follows up that the decision should be between a woman, her doctor, and her faith leader. Not the #txlege

Thank you @jessicafortexas for offering an amendment for survivors of rape and incest who are under 18.

This bill is cruel and would stop patients from having an abortion in a place they feel most comfortable. Thank you @jessicafortexas for standing up for survivors

Now, @DonnaHowardTX is sharing that 3 million women experience rape-related pregnancy. And that 23% of the women report that their partners refused to wear a condom.

This bill will punish these survivors who chose to access an abortion.

Rep. @VoteAnnJohnson is passionately speaking on the floor about how this bill would criminalize medical professionals. This bill creates a STATE JAIL FELONY for doctors.

Rep. @VotePennyShaw is authoring an amendment that takes away the criminal penalties for doctors who are just trying to do their job and provide health care.

What Rep. Klick is saying about medication abortions is FALSE. Medication abortions as pointed out by @ErinForYall are safer than Tylenol. The narrative being used by Rep. Klick is just political nonsense and fearmongering.

Rep. @Jon_RosenthalTX is now laying out the last amendment on #sb4.

His amendment would create a study to review the safety and effectiveness of medication abortion. Rep. @Jon_RosenthalTX is asking that we see if this bill is necessary at all.

waiting for @ErinForYall point of order

"I'm really tired of EVERY single session, having to come up here to debate what a woman can do with her own body and her own destiny" @DonnaHowardTX

"It is so soul-sucking to come back here session after session and to see the erosion of these opportunities. On Wednesday we will be the first state to ban abortions at 6 weeks."
@DonnaHowardTX out here fighting and speaking the truth 👏

Rep. @juliejohnsonTX is calling out the hypocrisy of the #txlege for not supporting survivors of sexual assault.

She is also pointing out that the #txlege speaks of freedom and not having regulations on everything EXCEPT abortion access.

And SB 4 passes 83-42. Thank you to all of our #txlege Champions who fought today for abortion access and for Planned Parenthood Patients.