The state Senate will be having a public hearing for the Heal Without Harm bills at the Capitol today in room Room 411 South at 10:00 AM. The bills, SB 423 and SB 424. are aimed at ending the trade and exploitation of body parts from aborted children while providing an ethical source of fetal tissue for research.
The first bill would end the exploitation and trade of body parts from aborted infants. According to the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), the Fetal Remains Respect Act (SB 423), “prohibits any person from knowingly acquiring, providing, receiving, or using a fetal body part, regardless of whether the acquisition, provision, receipt, or use is for valuable consideration.” The bill also requires abortion facilities to provide “the entombment, inurnment, or interment” of fetal remains from abortions.
The second bill, “the Unborn Child Disposition and Anatomical Gift Act (SB 424), would allow parents of stillborn children to receive a certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth. It would also require “the hospital, birthing center, or other health care facility” to inform the parents that they may request the unborn child’s remains for final disposition or offer the child as an anatomical gift for scientific research, according to the LRB.
The bills are authored by Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, and Rep. Joel Kleefisch, R-Oconomowoc. The bills have the support of the Heal Without Harm Coalition: Wisconsin Right to Life, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Family Action and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
If you’re planning on testifying, you can contact the coalition at [email protected] for more information.