We applaud the favorable committee report on House Bill 820 concerning the horrendous practice of partial-birth abortions. Contrary to erroneous and pessimistic reports, the issue of partial birth abortion remains alive in the state legislature thanks to the courageous vote of the Judiciary Committee members.

Now we can prepare for a necessary debate over whether we, as a commonwealth, will take a stand on behalf of safety for women and their unborn children and against the cruelly painful and maternally dangerous technique of killing a baby at the point of birth.

The bill comes with new language carefully crafted to avoid any constitutional questions and to clearly define what procedure is to be limited. No one can claim that this bill will ban any thing other than the practice of intentionally delivering a child partially from the womb and, at that point, brutally causing his or her death. Because this procedure lacks any medical justification, even the American Medical Association opposes it.

We look forward to the opportunity to reach out to the legislators to advocate for the health and safety of women and their children on this important issue.