Americans United for Life Releases 11th Edition of Defending Life to Equip Legislators in 2016 Session, Predicts Trends
WASHINGTON, D.C. (01-12-16) – This year’s prestigious Americans United for Life’s “Life List” a ranking of the 50 states based on how well they protect life in law has a new number one, announced Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. Based on analysis of legal and legislative achievements over the last year combined with accomplishments since Roe v. Wade became law, Oklahoma is now number one on the Life List, as well as achieving a Life List All Star ranking for 2016. To equip legislators for the further pro-life legal accomplishments in 2016, AUL also released its 11th edition of Defending Life, in advance of the March for Life, in time for its distribution to pro-life leaders nationwide.
“The momentum for creating a culture that respects life in the law increases each year, empowered with tools such as Americans United for Life’s model legislation constitutionally sound and deliberately crafted to protect women and their unborn infants from a predatory abortion industry,” said Dr. Yoest. “This is a historic time for life. More life-affirming and protective state laws have been enacted since 2010 than in any similar period since Roe v. Wade, and AUL has been involved in nearly one-third abortion-related measures enacted over the last six years.”
For achievements in protecting life in law and in the courts in 2015, three states were honored as 2016 Life List All Stars, including:
- Arkansas for enacting seven new life-affirming, abortion-related laws, several of which were based on AUL model legislation that is featured in AUL’s Women’s Protection Project.
- Oklahoma for enacting legislation found in both the Infants’ Protection Project, and Women’s Protection Project, giving it top honors for protecting mothers and their children last session.
- Texas for enacting portions of AUL’s Parental Involvement Enhancement Act, as well as its continued defense of House Bill 2 (enacted in 2013, based in part on AUL language, and composed of the types of laws featured in Women’s Protection Project). Portions of HB 2 requiring abortion clinics to meet the same high-quality health and safety standards as other facilities performing outpatient surgeries and requiring abortion providers to maintain hospital admitting privileges are now before the U.S. Supreme Court in Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole.
Each year, AUL releases the Life List to recognize accomplishments, both in passing pro-life laws and defending them in court, since Roe v. Wade. This year’s top 10 on the 2016 Life List (in order) are Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Indiana, North Dakota, Missouri, and Texas. For the complete list, click here.
In 2016, the states least protective of women and children against abortion industry abuses are: Washington (for the 7th time in a row), followed by Vermont, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Nevada, New York, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Wyoming.
Trending now: “Already, AUL’s newly released Infants’ Protection Project is getting a lot of attention from legislators, in particular the Unborn Infants Dignity Act which ensures that mothers are given the opportunity to ensure that their deceased infants receive respectful treatment, and that the bodies of aborted infants are not exploited,” noted Dr. Yoest. “Further, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to review Texas’s health and safety requirements for abortion providers, state leaders are also considering stronger protections for women from the chaos of under-regulated abortion clinics.”
To read an overview of 2016 Life List and Life List All Stars, click here.
To request your copy of the newly updated model legislation found in Defending Life, click here.
For more information on accomplishments for life in the 2015 State Session, click here.
