Statement by Bishop Burbidge and Bishop Knestout

on Governor Youngkin’s Vetoes of Abortion Shield Legislation 

We welcome and are very grateful for Governor Youngkin’s vetoes of SB 15, SB 716, HB 519, and HB 1539. These bills would have given abortion providers who violate other states’ pro-life laws an unprecedented safe harbor in Virginia.

The Governor’s rejection of these bills respects decisions other states have made to protect life. Of particular importance, the Governor’s action prevents abortion providers in Virginia from prescribing and mailing chemical abortion drugs to women and girls in other states without being subject to consequences for violating those states’ laws. Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

As Governor Youngkin’s vetoes have made clear, it would be dangerous and wrong to give abortion and those who provide it an elevated protected status in Virginia law. We urge the General Assembly to reverse the extremely harmful path it chose this year. Instead of attempting to make Virginia a preferred destination for abortion, its focus in future sessions should be to enact policies that would protect mothers and their children from the tragedy of abortion, and that provide pregnant women and new mothers and families the support they need.