Texas is the Lone Star State for a reason. We stand apart as a model for the nation. But we must do more to establish higher standards that reflect respect for the sanctity of life.
Last legislative session, we made Texas freer, stronger, safer and smarter.
In addition to improving early education and higher education, we provided a record amount of badly needed funding to unclog our congested roads. We delivered the most robust border security effort of any state ever. We cut taxes and eliminated unnecessary license fees. And we protected life—from the beginning to the end.
More of our students are graduating from high school, more of our universities are ranked Tier One and more Texans have a job than ever before.
And in the session ahead, we will forge an even broader path to prosperity for more Texas families.
But for all of our children to have a chance in life, they must first have a chance at life. That’s why I welcome any legislation that protects unborn children and promotes a culture of life in Texas.
Among the special guests at my State of the State address this past week was His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the archbishop of Galveston-Houston and pastor to 1.3 million Catholics.
I am grateful to the Cardinal and the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops for their ongoing commitment to protect the unborn and for offering proper burials for fetal remains of babies lost to abortion—at no charge.
This work of mercy by the bishops and Catholic cemeteries in Texas demonstrates the dignity and reverence that every child’s life deserves. Every child—born and unborn—deserves that dignity.
The butchering of unborn babies for trade in the open market is barbaric. We must criminalize the sale or donation of baby body parts.
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Laws must also be changed to make it a felony under Texas law to perform a partial-birth abortion.
And we must do more to help the children that mothers bring into this world.
That’s why I’m committed to advancing adoption services and developing programs to support mothers who embrace the blessing of a child’s life.
I am also calling for expanded access for more women to life-affirming family planning, preventive health care, cancer screenings and postpartum care.
Finally, the First Lady and I invite faith leaders across Texas to encourage their members to become foster and adoptive parents. We need a legion of families in every county who can open their homes and open their hearts to fostering our vulnerable children.
To find out more about the priorities for the session ahead, visit https://gov.texas.gov/initiatives.
I look forward to working with my legislative partners to ensure every Texas child has the opportunity for a life worthy of their promise.
LifeNews Note: Governor Greg Abbott is the Governor of Texas.
