COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 12, 2018 — Following today’s victory of the pro-life Heartbeat Bill in the Ohio Senate, Heartbeat Bill author and Faith2Action President Janet Porter stated, “All the glory for this victory goes to Jesus Christ alone.”

Porter restated Psalm 102:18, which she declared at a Heartbeat Bill rally in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium in September, 2011: “Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord.”

On November 15, the House passed the Heartbeat Bill with a bi-partisan veto-proof margin, which means H.B. 258 now heads to the desk of Governor John Kasich, who vetoed the bill in 2016, prior to the appointments of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I call on Governor John Kasich to return to his pro-life roots and sign the bill to protect the children in our state whose hearts beat like an SOS cry for protection,” said Porter who initiated the first Heartbeat Bill in Ohio in February, 2011. Heartbeat Bills have since been introduced in states across the country and have passed in Arkansas (2013), North Dakota (2013) and Iowa (2018).

Porter pointed out, “With the confirmation of Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, the Ohio Heartbeat Law will be upheld as Constitutional by a Supreme Court that will welcome it.”

Porter also addressed the Governor’s excuse of “saving taxpayer money” as a reason to veto the bill, stating, “Mat Staver, of Liberty Counsel, former dean of Liberty University School of Law, offered to defend the Ohio Heartbeat Law for FREE, as he did in Arkansas and North Dakota.  Every excuse for a veto is gone.”

Porter also spearheaded the federal Heartbeat Bill, HR 490, sponsored by Congressman Steve King (R, IA) which has 174 co-sponsors–more than any pro-life bill in Congress.

“I call on Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R,VA), to fulfill his destiny and bring the federal Heartbeat Bill out of the U.S. Judiciary Committee now, and give babies with beating hearts a chance at life,” stated Porter.

“I also call upon Speaker Paul Ryan (R, WI) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R, CA) to bring the common-sense Heartbeat Bill to an immediate floor vote in Congress–before the power to do so is gone,” added Porter.

Porter stated, “To deny a human heartbeat is to deny science. To ignore it is heartless.”

Calls to Governor Kasich can be made at: 614-466-3555

Calls to Chairman Bob Goodlatte can be made at: 202-225-5431