WASHINGTON – Today, Heritage Action, a national conservative grassroots organization, with two million grassroots activists nationwide, including thousands in Florida, released a statement from Executive Director Jessica Anderson commending Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for signing HB 5 into law and protecting the lives of unborn babies.
Once again, Florida puts family and life first. At 15 weeks, unborn babies can already suck their thumbs and feel pain. We applaud the Florida Legislature for passing and Governor DeSantis for signing HB 5 and protecting these babies after 15 weeks of gestation. Floridians overwhelmingly support protecting unborn lives late in pregnancy, and this legislation does that and more.
HB 5 not only defends the unborn, but it also provides resources for mothers, both during pregnancy and after birth, to reduce maternal and fetal mortality. This pro-life, pro-family legislation should be a model for other states across the country.
Background: The legislation protects unborn children from abortion after 15 weeks, with an exception for a “fatal fetal abnormality,” and would provide resources to reduce infant mortality. Heritage Action has supported the legislation as it moved through the Florida House and Senate. Heritage Action’s Florida Regional Coordinator, Karen Jaroch, was present at the bill signing.
Governor DeSantis signing this legislation follows a broader pattern of pro-family legislation coming out of the Florida Legislature. Earlier this month, Heritage Action put out a statement supporting SB 1796, legislation to strengthen Florida’s divorce laws and put families first.