Nashville, Tennessee — A Republican-led House subcommittee voted Tuesday to reject legislation that would have allowed doctors to perform abortions in limited circumstances without risking criminal charges under the state’s restrictive law.
The Population Health Subcommittee voted 8-2 against HB179, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Yusuf Hakeem of Chattanooga. The proposal sought to create narrowly defined exceptions permitting physicians to terminate pregnancies to save the life of the mother and in cases of rape or incest.
Hakeem told lawmakers the bill aimed to address “the most tragic situations,” adding, “When we’re talking about the life of the mother, I don’t think we take it as seriously as we should.” He cited cases in Louisiana and Tennessee in which women reportedly faced delayed care due to abortion restrictions.
Opponents pointed to testimony from a young woman who said she was conceived in rape and urged lawmakers not to expand exceptions. “Ending the life of an unborn child does not undo the violence that was done,” she told the panel.
Republican Rep. Paul Sherrell of Sparta said he believes life begins at conception and thanked the woman for speaking.
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