Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- Next, week, an Ohio House committee will vote on a bill that will help stop women from being pressured or forced into a decision to have an abortion. The vote is expected in the House panel on Wednesday and the full chamber could vote on the measure as early as next Thursday.

The Ohio House Health Committee will likely consider H.B. 280, the Protecting Pregnant Women from Coercion & Violence Bill.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Schneider, would require abortion facilities to display a poster in their waiting rooms making it clear to women that no one can coerce or pressure them into having an abortion they really don't want.

"This notice would indicate that under Ohio law an abortion can only be performed if the woman signs a consent form indicating that she is consenting voluntarily and without coercion," Right to Life of Cincinnati director Paula Westwood tells LifeNews.com.

"It would also inform the woman that, if she is being coerced into having an abortion, she should not sign a consent form and should inform clinic employees," the pro-life advocate continued.

The measure would also increase penalties for domestic violence against a woman in an attempt to get her to have an abortion, as long as the offender knew the woman was pregnant at the time of the assault.

"Americans on both sides of the abortion issue should join in opposing coerced abortion and violence against pregnant women," Westwood concluded.

The measure is similar to legislation in Missouri, that the House approved there on a lopsided bipartisan vote. However, abortion advocates have attacked the legislation.

ACTION: Contact your member of the Ohio House and urge strong support for HB 280. You can determine your legislator with your zip code by going to http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp

Related web sites:
Ohio House - http://www.house.state.oh.us
Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati - http://www.cincinnatirighttolife.org
Ohio Right to Life - http://www.ohiolife.org