Prince William delegates who co-sponsored abortion bill, churches react

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — A bill in the Virginia House of Delegates, co-sponsored by multiple Prince William County legislators, that would allow a woman to receive an abortion up until the time of delivery died this week.

Delegate Kathy Tran (42-D, Lorton, West Springfield) sponsored HB 2491 which would have changed a requirement for women to obtain approval from three doctors to receive an abortion in the third and final trimester of pregnancy to one. Tran’s bill died Monday in a House Courts Subcommittee where she told a panel of lawmakers that a child could an aborted at the time a mother was dilating on the delivery table.

Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday was asked to answer for Tran, and for his views on the bill while on WTOP Radio’s “Ask the Governor” show. Tran’s bill states that in cases of third-trimester abortions or in situations of aborting the child after birth: “measures for life support for the product of such abortion or miscarriage shall be available and utilized if there is any clearly visible evidence of viability.” 

“If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the mother would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that is what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mothers,” Northam told reporters at WTOP.

Opponents of the bill argue the language used in it is too vague, stating a third-trimester abortion would be allowed if the mother’s life is in danger but also if the mother’s mental health is at risk should the fetus be born.

Multiple members of the Prince William County, all Democrats, signed their names to the bill as co-sponsors. One of them is Delegate Elizabeth Guzman who issued a statement Thursday morning about her support of the bill.

“The bill… would still require medical reason and certification by a doctor — similar to the provisions that have existed for years,” states Guzman in a post to Twitter. “The suggestion that this bill would legalize late-term abortions is an irresponsible and dangerous mischaracterization. I co-patroned this bill because I believe that politicians need to stay away from the women’s personal medical discussions and leave that to the mother, their family, and the doctor.”

Delegate Lee Carter (D-50, Manassas, Bristow) also took to Twitter, stating “Let me be abundantly clear: It doesn’t matter what lies the GOP tells, and it doesn’t matter how many threats those lies incite against me, I will always support the right to choose. I’m proud to be a co-patron of #HB2491.”

The man running against Carter for the House of Delegates seat, Manassas City Councilman Ian Lovejoy took an opposite view.

“Never thought I’d have to take a position on infanticide, but this is where we find ourselves,” Lovejoy posted to Facebook. “Pro-life or pro-choice, the potential to terminate an otherwise healthy pregnancy at the moment of delivery does not represent Virginia values — or frankly any values.”

Dr. Derek Grier of Grace Church, in Dumfries, took to social media urging his congregation to voice opposition to the bill. “This is happening on our watch,” he states.

Northam, a physician, said that third-trimester abortions are usually carried out when a fetus has severe deformities or has died in the womb.

Nearly 90 percent of all abortions in the U.S. occur during the first 12 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. Only about 2 percent of abortions carried out after 21 weeks, according to the National Abortion Federation.