The Alabama Senate passed H.B. 314 on Tuesday, which is a near-total ban on abortions that makes no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.
The only exception written into the “Human Life Protection Act” was for cases when “abortion is necessary in order to prevent a serious health risk.” All other abortion procedures would be reclassified as Class A felonies, punishable by up to 99 years. Only the abortion provider would be charged, however, and not the woman.
If signed into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, it would be the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.
BREAKING: The Alabama Senate passes the most restrictive abortion ban in the US, making it a felony with very limited exceptions https://t.co/H84uYgeUJl
— CNN (@CNN) May 15, 2019
The vote passed 25-6.
WATCH: Alabama Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton demanded a roll call after the Senate stripped a rape and incest exception from a bill to ban abortion. https://t.co/OodDF1q7Cn@kristendahlgren has the details tonight on @NBCNightlyNews. pic.twitter.com/L5dON2NV7i
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) May 9, 2019
Pro-choice advocates immediately took to Twitter to protest the move, calling it “a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.” (RELATED: Alabama Rep Argues For Abortion Access: ‘Kill Them Now Or Kill Them Later’)
Everyone needs to wake up and pay attention to what is happening! DONATE, VOLUNTEER, GET INVOLVED NOW!
“The Alabama Senate approved a measure on Tuesday that would outlaw almost all abortions in the state, setting up a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade.” https://t.co/LbspExegAN— Amy Siskind ????️???? (@Amy_Siskind) May 15, 2019
The Handmaid’s Tale IRL. https://t.co/TC5iZMNXXc
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) May 15, 2019
“This is a terrible day for women and for families in this country. … This bill should not be signed into law.”
Cecile Richards, fmr. president of Planned Parenthood, on the Alabama legislature passing a near total abortion ban https://t.co/KuYhKrb4kB pic.twitter.com/JdDJGQwkGS
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 15, 2019
Several of the Democratic 2020 presidential candidates weighed in on the issue, as well.
The Alabama Senate just stripped women of health care rights by voting to make abortion procedures a felony. I will fight in solidarity with women to make sure rights guaranteed by Roe v. Wade will not be threatened by those who have no business making laws about their bodies. https://t.co/hS1a2lNEc0
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) May 15, 2019
Alabama just passed a near-total ban on abortion.
No exceptions for rape or incest.
Doctors could face 99 years in prison for providing abortions.
This is a war on women, and it is time to fight like hell. https://t.co/lhwlbyeQsl
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) May 15, 2019
Outrageous news coming out of Alabama. This law would effectively ban abortions in the state and criminalize doctors for doing their jobs – providing health care to women. https://t.co/90utkxn7J2
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) May 15, 2019
What Alabama is doing is blatantly unconstitutional and disrespects the fundamental right a woman has to make decisions about her own body.
I say to Gov. Ivey: Veto this cruel bill. Stop the attack on women’s rights. https://t.co/yByOIyJ6XL
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 15, 2019
If the Alabama governor signs the bill, it will take effect in six months.