The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has unveiled “The State of Abortion in the United States, 2023” today. This marks the tenth annual release of the report, coming just seven months after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. The report provides a comprehensive overview of significant legislative developments at both the state and federal levels following the Dobbs ruling, along with an analysis of the annual abortion statistics in the United States.
This year’s edition delves into the Biden Administration’s efforts to undermine the Hyde Amendment, a crucial provision that has barred federal funding for elective abortions in Medicaid since 1976. Additionally, it offers a detailed examination of ongoing attempts to revive the long-expired Equal Rights Amendment through unconventional means. The report sheds light on the potential far-reaching consequences of the ERA on abortion law, a viewpoint previously dismissed but now championed by prominent pro-abortion advocates.
“Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs, we have seen the state of abortion in the United States shift dramatically as many states moved to enact laws that would protect unborn children and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Pro-life education and legislative efforts are making an impact on our culture and in the lives of women facing unexpected pregnancies. But there is still much to be done.”
Key highlights from the report include:
- The data on abortion trends through 2020, released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Guttmacher Institute, diverge in their findings. While the CDC indicates a slight decline, the Guttmacher Institute reports a slight increase. However, both sources concur on one point: a significant majority of abortions are now performed using chemical abortion, a method that poses heightened risks for women. This is occurring concurrently with the Biden Administration’s efforts to eliminate safety measures and other regulatory controls designed to safeguard women from the potentially lethal consequences of self-managed abortion.
- A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has led the National Right to Life to estimate that 64,443,118 abortions have been performed in the United States since 1973.
- In the months following the Dobbs decision, several states have enacted legislation designed to provide comprehensive protections for unborn children and their mothers from abortion. However, according to the National Right to Life Department of State Legislation, as examined in the report, 23 states have guaranteed a right to abortion by court decision, constitutional amendment, or state legislative statute.
The report is available from the National Right to Life Communications Department here.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
