Special Session: A New Opportunity to Defend Life

I am incredibly thankful to Governor Greg Abbott for his strong leadership in calling the Texas Legislature back for a special session beginning July 21st. I am also deeply honored to have his endorsement as we work together to build on the wins from the regular session.

One of the most urgent issues I am eager to address during this special session is the growing problem of illegal abortion pill trafficking. During the regular session, I co-authored legislation designed to crack down on the illegal distribution of abortion pills and allow wrongful death lawsuits for women harmed by these dangerous drugs.

Abortion pills, which can be obtained illegally through online shipments or unregulated sources, pose severe risks to unborn babies and their mothers. These pills cause the pregnancy to end chemically and come with serious health risks for women, including hemorrhaging, infection, and in some cases, death. The illegal trafficking of these pills also circumvents existing protections and accountability measures, making it essential to strengthen the law to protect both life and women’s health.

Though it did not make it out of the House last session, this issue is too important to ignore. I am committed to pushing these protections forward and look forward to working with my colleagues in the special session to pass this critical legislation.

There is a lot of momentum for the pro-life cause in the legislature right now. During the regular session, I proudly maintained a 100% pro-life record by co-authoring and supporting several important bills that advance the cause of life in Texas.

Among these were laws clarifying pro-life legal definitions and requiring continuing education for physicians to ensure medical professionals understand and uphold protections for unborn children. I also helped stop cities like Austin and San Antonio from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion travel. Additionally, I supported legislation adding adoption education to public school curriculums, creating perinatal palliative care programs for families facing difficult prenatal diagnoses, and establishing the Texas Life Monument at the State Capitol.

As Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee charged with overseeing all health and human service funding in our state, I fought hard to block anti-life measures. I also secured millions in funding for programs such as Thriving Texas Families (formerly known as Alternatives to Abortion) and the Texas Baby Moses Hotline public awareness campaign, both of which provide crucial support to mothers and families in crisis.

I encourage every Texan to stay informed and engaged during this special session as we work together to protect the unborn and support mothers and families across our great state.

In addition to protecting life, the special session agenda includes other vital priorities such as providing relief funding for the recent Texas Hill Country floods, cutting property taxes, and eliminating the STAAR test.

These issues are all critical to the safety, well-being, and prosperity of Texans, and I am committed to addressing them alongside my pro-life work during the special session.

Make sure you stay connected and informed about the legislative process by calling our Capitol office at (512) 463-0600 or by following my social media page at www.facebook.com/AngeliaOrrForTX.

– Conservative State Representative Angelia Orr