May. 14, 2019
HARRISBURG – Renewing its commitment to protecting children with Down syndrome, the House today approved Rep. Kate Klunk’s (R-Hanover) Down Syndrome Protection Legislation.
“For years the House and Senate have passed nonbinding resolutions to honor people with Down syndrome and mark March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day,” Klunk said. “Today, we took a step to truly honor those with Down syndrome by protecting them from eradication. No baby with Down syndrome should be denied the opportunity of life.”
Just like Pennsylvania does not allow a baby to be aborted because of his or her gender, Klunk’s
House Bill 321 would not allow an abortion because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.
Over the years, the life expectancy for those with Down syndrome has increased exponentially. The life expectancy for someone with Down syndrome has gone from 10 years of age in 1960 to 60 years of age today.
“Aborting babies based solely on a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome is a slippery slope toward larger societal genetic engineering,” Klunk said. “Those with Down syndrome should not be discriminated against because they have an extra chromosome and they should not be denied the chance at life. These are truly lives worth living.”
Representative Kate A. Klunk
169th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepKlunk.com /
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