For further information:
Jessica Rodgers, 202-626-8825, mediarelations@nrlc.org
 

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE APPLAUDS NORTH CAROLINA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VETO OVERRIDE

WASHINGTON- Today, National Right to Life applauded a bi-partisan vote in the North Carolina House of Representatives to override Governor Beverly Perdue's veto of the Women’s Right to Know bill. Members of the North Carolina House voted 72-47 to override the Governor's veto; the Senate is expected to follow shortly.  Governor Perdue issued a veto of the bill on June 27.  

“Mothers and their unborn children are the victors today because this law would protect a mother’s right to receive vital information prior to making a life or death decision about her unborn child,” said Mary Spaulding Balch, director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee. “The bi-partisan support needed to pass this override in the House underscores the reasonable nature of the law. With final passage of this law, no longer will mothers in North Carolina be left to the one-sided sales-promoting information provided by an industry that is in the business of killing unborn children.”

The informed consent bill provides that a booklet containing scientifically accurate information about risks, alternatives and information on the development of the unborn child, compiled by the Department of Health and Human Services, be offered to the mother at least 24 hours prior to an abortion so that she might have the opportunity to read and understand the information.  It also provides that an ultrasound image of the unborn child be displayed at least four hours prior to an abortion so that the mother might view it.

"The abortion industry, working in league with Governor Perdue, attempted to place a financial bottom line above the rights and protection of mothers. The North Carolina House has rightly responded that women deserve all the facts about an invasive surgical procedure that could greatly impact their physical and emotional well-being," Balch added.  "We applaud the North Carolina House for protecting the rights of mothers and their unborn children."

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement, NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.