The Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, Senate File 1, is a seemingly short, less-than-a-page bill, but its vague language would have detrimental impacts and open up Minnesota to serious, unintended consequences.
This sweeping legislation looks to establish a “fundamental right to reproductive health” by enshrining into Minnesota law the right to unlimited abortion. If passed, this would serve as the most extreme, radical abortion law in the country and rival the worst of any nation in the world.
This extremist bill would allow for an abortion at any point in a pregnancy, up until the second of birth. This includes late third-trimester abortions and partial-birth abortions. This goes against the beliefs of many, specifically the 71% of Americans who believe that abortion should be illegal in the third trimester. Why then is it the Democrats’ top session priority to pass this overarching, abortion-on-demand policy in Minnesota?
Further, no protections are in place for victims of sex trafficking, rape or abuse. This opens the door to where underage or adult victims can be exploited. The legislation would also allow minors to have access to sterilization without parental consent or notification. This would mean that parents would receive zero notification if their 13-year-old child chooses to undergo this procedure. Democrats argue that doctors won’t allow their patients to make any unnecessary sterilization decisions. However, one doctor who doesn’t know all the facts, or who isn’t acting scrupulously, will violate parental rights and harm the child for life.
It is evident that there are numerous faults to this extreme abortion legislation. Yet, Democrats have continued to force this tremendously controversial policy at a rapid pace through committee, with extremely limited public feedback. And with these many concerns known, this legislation still recently passed out of the House of Representatives by a vote of 69-65.
Now, it falls to the Senate to continue the fight against this extremist policy as it moves to the floor for debate. And I can assure you that I and the rest of the Senate Republicans are ready to stand up for what’s right and fight for the unborn who have no voice.
With the Democrats holding a 34-33 majority in the Senate, only one of them needs to flip. They may have an advantage in this battle today. However, I know that they will not win the war.
I’ve been saying for years that my generation would see the end of Roe vs. Wade in my lifetime, and that day finally came to pass last summer with the Dobbs decision. And now, we will keep on marching so long as there is a mother we can help and a baby we can save.
The Senate is expected to vote on the PRO Act Friday morning during its 10:30 a.m. floor session.
Andrew Mathews
Andrew Mathews is a Minnesota state senator from Princeton.
