HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS STATEMENT ON VOTE KEEPING

TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND BILL ALIVE YET ANOTHER DAY

Richmond – After attempting to pass by SB484 for another day without a final vote, the Republican-led House of Delegates defeated a motion today to kill the bill once and for all.  The motion to pass by the bill indefinitely was made by Democratic Leader David Toscano (D-Charlottesville), and defeated by a 32 to 68 vote.

"If House Republicans didn't know a week ago what this bill did, they certainly know now," remarked Del. Toscano. "HB484 is simply unfixable, and Virginia has become a national laughingstock due to this overreaching, intrusive measure. It does nothing but distract us from creating jobs and improving educational opportunities for our children."

Today's vote ensures that SB484 remains alive for another day. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Fauquier), passed the Senate in early February. It is a companion bill to HB462, introduced by Del. Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), which passed the House 63-36 last Tuesday. Both measures require women to undergo an ultrasound – including a physically invasive transvaginal sonogram – prior to terminating a pregnancy for any reason.                         

 ###