Posted on 06/22/2022 9:17:32 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(Translation)
The Senate passed in a voice vote Bill 693 that would limit abortions in Puerto Rico beginning at 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Senate Bill 693 was co-authored by Senators Joanne Rodríguez Véve, José Luis Dalmau Santiago, Thomas Rivera Schatz, Albert Torres, Ramón Ruiz Nieves, and Keren Riquelme Cabrera.
The bill was later approved by a formal vote of 16 in favor, 9 against, and one abstention.
Project Dignity Senator and Life & Family Affairs Committee Chair Rodríguez stated that “I believe in the defense of life beginning at conception. However, I am willing to support this bill from members of three [party] delegations. A bill that recognizes that a woman’s right to privacy is not absolute but, rather, has its limits in favor of other rights such as that to life. It seeks to protect unborn babies’ lives at 5 ½ months or more of pregnancy,” she said.
Likewise, Rodríguez stated that Senate Bill 693 stipulates that a termination of pregnancy may proceed only if the mother is in danger of death or severe disability; due to a fetal anomaly incompatible with life; or due to a medical determination of fetal non-viability.
Meanwhile, the senator explained that amendments were included, such as eliminating the requirements for a woman to sign an informed-consent form and for having two doctors at a late-term abortion; the abortion method the doctor chooses; and clearly establishing that viability beginning on the 22nd week [of pregnancy] is determined by the doctor according to his best professional judgement.
For her part, [Senate] Women’s Affairs Committee Chair Migdalia González Arroyo expressed her opposition to the bill and stated that “our Bill of Rights is clear as to the right to privacy and jurisprudence. The bill places an undue burden on women and girls who need to undergo an abortion. If approved, the bill will see its day in court, of which I don’t have the slightest doubt.”
During his turn [to speak] in favor of the bill, New Progressive Party [PNP] [Senate Leader] Thomas Rivera Schatz maintained that it does not suffer from any juridical deficiency.
“Everybody here was heard, ample participation was given to those who are [both] in favor and against…..but the moment has come to evaluate all those statements [by] deciding with our votes….the bill is more lax than what I would want…..everybody will vote on this bill according to their consciences and history will record who really values life and liberty. A woman’s right is not in dispute here,” he said. Senators Ruíz, William Villafañe, Gregorio Matías, Wanda Soto Tolentino, and Riquelme spoke along the same lines.
On the other hand, Citizen Victory Movement Senator Ana Irma Rivera Lassén expressed her opposition to the bill and said that “this is a bill that implies a backward step for women’s rights. This bill is meant to take Puerto Rico back to the 1800s, is meant to create obstacles to women’s making decisions about their bodies….we are concerned that this bill goes above the recommendations of the medical panels [and] the Departments of Health and Justice.
For her part, [Puerto Rican Independence Party] Senator María de Lourdes Santiago Negrón indicated that “when motherhood is desired, it’s the greatest joy that can be experienced. That is not the experience for all pregnant people. There are women for whom the imposition of unwanted motherhood is a source of pain and marginalization.”
Meanwhile, independent Senator José Vargas Vidot pointed out that “this is a bill that brings us closer to the past. The effect of this bill is to return to the [clothes] hanger, to expose the person without the recourse to risk her life. We are not talking about an abortion epidemic in Puerto Rico; that does not exist.” Popular Democratic Party [PPD] Senator Juan Zaragoza Gómez and PNP Senator Nitza Morán also spoke against [the bill].
The bill also details that “every Hospital, Pregnancy Termination Center, licensed medical professional, or healthcare-services center is required to submit monthly to the Department of Health the following information related to every pregnancy termination performed beginning at 22 months [of pregnancy] to ensure obedience to this Law and for statistical purposes.”
The bill was approved at the Life & Family [Affairs] Committee Rodríguez chairs but was brought again to public hearings following the multiple controversies it generated once it was approved in committee without that legislative route.
In fact, Senate President Dalmau generated controversy within the ranks of the PPD when describing women who undergo an abortion as murderers.
Puerto Rico ping
It’s amazing that states (territories) can actually make laws that their people want. Without the Fed’s telling them what’s right for them.
I am not pro abortion…but the system can work if we allow it.
*sigh*
Some day scientists are going to figure out what causes pregnancy and ways to avoid it before they have to resort to this.
Does AOC know about this?? Her peeps are limiting the sacred right to fetal homicide? Whoa...
Now the dems won’t allow for the 51st state vote
But how are Nanzi and $oros$ and all the other dems who never seem to die going to obtain the raw materials to produce their daily anti-aging baby juice IVs?
This should send a shockwave thru the Party of Death................
More so if Roe v. Wade is overturned, God willing.
Great news! PR had a very high rate of abortion relative to the states for awhile although there has been a vocal pro-life movement there as well.
Was this “awhile” period after Maria for a while. My son who has now lived in PR for over a decade says that for at least a year after Miria, PR was a third world country. He had to put a lot of time and effort into helping his normally comfortable in-laws. How much were normally available birth control items sold at drug stores hard to get during that period? How many people might have felt there was no way that they could care for an infant when they could barely care for themselves? I recently encountered the information that Russia has 2 1/2 times the abortion rate of the US. How bad are the conditions there that women don’t want to reproduce.
Now my question is if Governor Pierluisi (a Democrat) will sign the bill into law.
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