In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade—which has reignited the national debate on abortion—states across the country have been enacting increasingly stringent laws restricting access to the procedure.
Against this backdrop, Roger Severino, a prominent pro-life advocate, has passionately called for unwavering dedication to pro-life policies and eradicating abortion from society. Severino's strong words reflect the ongoing battle between advocates on both sides of the abortion issue as state legislatures grapple with the fundamental question of reproductive rights and the sanctity of unborn life.
"Since Dobbs, we've seen incredible legislative wins across the country that have saved tens of thousands of lives," Roger Severino, vice president of domestic policy at The Heritage Foundation, said in a recent statement. "Sadly, liberal states, woke corporations, and our own president would rather those precious children's lives had been ended in the womb. We still face a well-funded anti-life ideology that promotes abortion up until birth and would rather have taxpayers fund abortion than life-affirming options for women."
One prominent source shedding light on the current state of abortion access is the Guttmacher Institute, a renowned nongovernmental organization dedicated to sexual and reproductive health research. Approximately 13 states, according to institute data, have now implemented near-total bans on abortion, effectively curtailing women's reproductive rights within their jurisdictions.
Among those states, Texas and the Dakotas have emerged as particularly restrictive battlegrounds for abortion legislation. In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Texas swiftly enacted Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act. The law prohibits abortions once embryonic or fetal cardiac activity is detectable, typically occurring as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
One of the most controversial aspects of SB 8 is the inclusion of a civil enforcement provision. Under the provision, any individual—excluding government employees or officers—can file a lawsuit against those involved in facilitating or intending to provide an abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected. This includes third parties who "aid and abet the performance or inducement of an abortion," encompassing those who financially support the procedure.
Similarly, North Dakota stands as one of the states with the most stringent abortion restrictions. The state allows exceptions solely in cases of rape or incest within the initial six weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, North Dakota permits abortions if they are "deemed necessary based on reasonable medical judgment which was intended to prevent the death or a serious health risk to the pregnant female." The law also recognizes the necessity of treating ectopic or molar pregnancies, regardless of the stage of gestation.
"No child is disposable, and none should have their life taken away when they have done absolutely nothing wrong and merely need time enough to be born," Severino said in the statement. "The Heritage Foundation will continue to advocate for pro-life policies that protect unborn life in law, end taxpayer funding for abortion giants like Planned Parenthood, end dangerous self-induced chemical abortions, provide mothers life-affirming options and support—with the ultimate goal of making abortion unthinkable. Americans will not rest until abortion is eradicated from our society."
