34 Years of Legalized Abortion in America

January 22^nd, 2007 marks the 34^th anniversary of legalized abortion on demand in the United States. In 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton rendered abortion legal through all nine months of pregnancy for almost any reason. Thirty-four years later, as the country is slowly becoming more Pro-Life, over 1.2 million abortions are still committed each year.

Texas is 4^th among the most Pro-Life states in the country, according to the 2006 Americans United for Life National Pro-Life State Analysis, and we will most likely move up in the 2007 report. These rankings are based on our Pro-Life legislature, public assistance to pregnant women, as well as the Pro-Life legislation that we have worked hard to pass.

As in Texas, the United States has been becoming more Pro-Life. A 2006 Harris Poll headline read: “Support for Roe vs. Wade Declines to Lowest Level Ever; U.S. Adults Almost Equally Split: 49 Percent in Favor, 47 Percent Oppose.” We also know that when respondents are asked more specific questions (regarding partial-birth abortion, abortion due to financial concerns, or abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy, for example), they are even more Pro-Life than represented in these general polls.

According to the most recent abortion records, the Alan Guttmacher Institute (the research branch of Planned Parenthood) reported 1.287 million abortions in 2003. This was a decrease from 1.293 million in 2002. Unfortunately, the government does not require that abortions be reported; therefore, we do not have an accurate view of how many abortions are truly being committed. (One priority for the Texas 80^th legislative session will be to ensure that Texas has uniform reporting requirements.) The national abortion numbers are dropping slightly, but so many lives still need protection.

The abortion numbers in Texas have increased slightly from 72,441 in 2004 to 74,399 in 2005 (an increase of under 3%). While not a drastic change, any increase in the abortion rate is tragic and motivates us to redouble efforts in educating Texans about abortion and the many local assistance programs available to pregnant women.

Induced Abortions as a Percentage of Reported Pregnancies

Texas Residents 1990-2005

YEAR	ABORTIONS	BIRTHS + FETAL DEATHS	% ABORTIONS	Annual Reduction Since 1990	% Reduction Since 1990	Total Lives Saved Since 1990
1990	90,051	318,343	22
1991	87,679	319,788	22	2,372	2.63	2,372
1992	87,230	322,787	21	2,821	3.13	5,193
1993	86,360	323,969	21	3,691	4.10	8,884
1994	83,823	323,127	21	6,228	6.92	15,112
1995	83,419	324,706	20	6,632	7.36	21,744
1996	87,677	332,202	21	2,374	2.64	24,118
1997	81,526	335,798	20	8,525	9.47	32,643
1998	78,887	344,173	19	11,164	12.40	43,807
1999	77,291	351,240	18	12,760	14.17	56,567
2000	73,155	365,475	17	16,896	18.76	73,463
2001	74,101	367,407	17	15,950	17.71	89,413
2002	76,278	374,646	17	13,773	15.29	103,186
2003	76,019	379,632	17	14,032	15.58	117,218
2004	72,441	N/A	N/A	17,610	19.56	134,828
2005	74,399	N/A	N/A	15,652	17.38	150,480