Dozens testify in Missouri Senate abortion hearings Wednesday

State Sen. Bob Onder, R-St. Charles County, addresses citizens assembled Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at  the state Capitol. (Julie Smith/News Tribune file photo)
State Sen. Bob Onder, R-St. Charles County, addresses citizens assembled Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, at the state Capitol. (Julie Smith/News Tribune file photo)


"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5 was just one of the many lines of Scripture referenced at a public hearing solely discussing anti-abortion legislation Wednesday morning.

Dozens of witnesses strongly for and against a handful of Senate Bills and Joint Resolutions, that would do everything from defunding Planned Parenthood to banning and criminalizing abortion in the state, gathered at the Capitol to testify in front of the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs.

Discussed Wednesday morning were Senate Bills 637, 699, 778 and 1103 and Senate Joint Resolutions 34, 48, 52 and 53.

"Missouri has a very large body of pro-life laws," Sen. Bob Onder, R-St. Charles County, said while presenting his proposed legislation -- SB 637 and SJR 53. "But all of these pro-life accomplishments could be undermined if the Missouri Supreme Court found a right to abortion in the Missouri Constitution."

Those testifying at the hearing were asked to provide a general statement for or against, or for informational purposes on the many pieces of proposed legislation.

"I was pregnant at nine weeks when I found out I had an ectopic pregnancy," said Chimene Schwach, testifying in opposition of the proposed legislation at Wednesday's hearing. "Many in this room consider the life-saving procedure that my doctor gave me an abortion, and that is not the case ... I would have died without that care."

During her testimony, Schwach specifically referenced one of Sen. Rick Brattin's bills -- SB 778.

"This is the Texas heartbeat bill," said Brattin, R-Barton County. "What the second portion of this does is adds a private cause of action, to allow those potentially harmed by the abortion services or in any way, shape or form they have that capability to go after the abortion provider."

The private cause of action, if won by the claimant, would require a court to award injunctive relief, damages no less than $10,000 for each abortion performed or induced in violation of the act and costs and attorney's fees.

"I am a Black woman; people have been putting bounties on the heads of Black people and people of color and Native Americans in this country for hundreds of years," Schwach said. "It is unjust to allow people to put bounties on my head."

Others speaking in opposition of the anti-abortion legislation also directed their testimony towards Brattin and his legislation.

Many pro-life residents who testified at the hearing shared their support for SB 699 and SJR 48, sponsored by Sen. Mike Moon, R-Lawrence County, that would establish the "Abolition of Abortion in Missouri Act" but were opposed to the rest of the proposed legislation.

"Today, you see these other six insane regulatory bills that simply say when, where and how a preborn baby can be slaughtered in cold blood," a citizen testifying at Wednesday's hearing said. "And then you see SB 699, which provides true justice."

The act "will provide to unborn children the equal protection of the laws of the state," Moon said, "A woman who knowingly undergoes an abortion, or attempts to undergo an abortion, would be in violation of the section and they would be held criminally responsible for the death or attempted death of the child unless that woman has been coerced."

SJR 48 is essentially the same except it goes to a vote of the people, he added.

Wednesday's hearing was the first discussing the proposed legislation.

Click the links below to read the full bill:

 SB 637: Excludes from eligible MO HealthNet providers any abortion providers, affiliates

https://bit.ly/3xbiuoE

Sponsor: Sen. Bob Onder

• SJR 53: Recognizes that nothing in the Missouri Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion

https://bit.ly/3JhAXlR

Sponsor: Sen. Bob Onder

• SB 778: Prohibits abortions following the detection of a fetal heartbeat, adds a private cause of action

https://bit.ly/3ugAqMy

Sponsor: Sen. Rick Brattin

• SB 699: Establishes the “Abolition of Abortion in Missouri Act”

https://bit.ly/3je7K0s

Sponsor: Sen. Mike Moon

• SJR 48: Recognizes that unborn children have equal protection of the laws, prohibits abortion, and prohibits public funding of abortion

https://bit.ly/3v2JC6v

Sponsor: Sen. Mike Moon