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Thursday, April 17, 2008                                                                   Derrick Jones, (202) 626-8825
                                                                                                      mediarelations@nrlc.org     

OKLAHOMA ENACTS STRONGEST ULTRASOUND BILL YET
House, Senate Override Governor's Veto

WASHINGTON – Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate overrode Governor Brad Henry's veto of SB 1878. Among other things, the bill requires that at least one hour prior to an abortion, an abortionist perform an ultrasound and display the image of the unborn child so that the mother can view it if she chooses. This strengthens a provision in Oklahoma law that provided that mothers be told where they could obtain a free ultrasound and fetal heart tone services before an abortion.

"By strengthening the ultrasound provision of their law, the Oklahoma legislature has created the strongest, most protective ultrasound law in the nation. They are doing everything possible to ensure that a mother is given the opportunity to see her unborn child in real-time and learn all the facts before making the life and death decision of abortion," said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., National Right to Life State Legislative Director. "Simply put, the abortion decision cannot be undone. Women deserve all the facts."

The full text of the Oklahoma legislation is available at: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/SB/SB1878_ENR.RTF  

Governor Henry vetoed the legislation yesterday and the Oklahoma House and Senate quickly voted today to override his veto (House – 81-15; Senate – 37-11).

Including Oklahoma, a total of thirteen states have laws which make provisions for an abortionist to offer a woman the opportunity to view an ultrasound image of her unborn child. This year, South Dakota and Ohio joined Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin. Louisiana requires that, for abortions at twenty or more weeks gestation, an ultrasound be performed and that the woman be offered the opportunity to view the image. Two other states, Arizona and Florida, require an ultrasound for all abortions after 12 weeks, but it is up to the woman to request to see the image.

Additionally, South Carolina's abortion businesses will be required to inform women that they have a right to view the ultrasound of their unborn child one hour before an abortion under a compromise South Carolina House and Senate lawmakers reached today. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor Mark Sanford.

"We will continue to work and urge other states to pass similar legislation that seeks to protect mothers and their unborn children," Balch added.

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.