For immediate release: Monday, October 26, 2020, 7:10 PM CDT from National Right to Life Committee WASHINGTON -- The president of the nation's oldest and largest pro-life organization this evening commended President Trump and Senate Republicans for overcoming intense political attacks to successfully seat Amy Coney Barrett as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Senate, including Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Marsha Blackburn, voted 52-48 to confirm Barrett, with all 47 Senate Democrats voting in opposition (joined by only a single Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine). Carol Tobias, president of National Right Life, commented: "On behalf of Americans who treasure the rights protected by the Constitution, including the right to life, we commend President Trump and Senate Republicans for their landmark achievement of placing three advocates of judicial restraint on the Supreme Court. They accomplished this in the face of increasingly rabid political threats from Democrat-aligned interest groups and their media allies, and escalating threats of attacks on the independence of the Supreme Court by many Senate Democrats. I speak for millions of Americans who believe that the President, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, and the Republican Party collectively deserve our deepest gratitude and our energetic support." Continue reading

Tennessee Right to Life Condemns District Court Ruling Basic Safeguard for Women Struck Down With complete disregard for the health and safety of Tennessee's women and unborn children, Senior United States District Judge Bernard A. Friedman permanently enjoined enforcement of Tennessee's 48-hour waiting period today. This common sense policy, in effect since 2015, has resulted in the saving of countless unborn lives and a lack of regret by mothers who had time to further consider her decision following provision of informed consent information. The extra 48-hours also allowed mothers the opportunity to identify life-affirming resources in her community or region. "Not only is this decision a slap at Tennessee's abortion-vulnerable women, it is an affront to Tennessee's voters who passed a 2014 constitutional amendment in which allowing a short waiting period was a key factor," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. "Our organization remains committed to seeing a similar statute drafted and enforced during the next legislative session," said Harris. Judge Friedman in his ruling states "the mandatory waiting period is...gratuitously demeaning to women who have decided to have an abortion...provides no appreciable benefit to fetal life or women's mental and emotional health. On the contrary.....place women's physical and psychological health and well-being at risk." Continue reading

For immediate release: Saturday, September 26, 2020 National Right to Life on President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court Nominee: Judge Amy Coney Barrett WASHINGTON — President Trump today announced that he will nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to fill the seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. National Right to Life President Carol Tobias was a guest of the White House during today’s announcement. “We commend President Trump for his nomination of an impressively well-qualified judge to the Supreme Court,” said Tobias. “Judge Barrett has demonstrated a commitment to defending the text and history of the Constitution and the principles of judicial restraint.” President Trump’s nominee stands in stark contrast with the judicial-legislative activists who would be nominated by Joe Biden. Joe Biden has promised to impose a litmus test of his nominees. During the Democratic presidential primary debates in February 2020, when asked if he would have a litmus test on abortion, Biden responded emphatically in the affirmative: Yes, look. Here is the deal. A litmus test on abortion relates to the fundamental value of the Constitution. A woman does have a right to choose...If you call that a litmus test it is a litmus test. Continue reading

Promises Four More Years of Right to Life Leadership When Re-Elected WASHINGTON — On Thursday, September 3, President Trump released a letter to pro-life Americans promising that “With your help, I will win re-election, ensuring we have another four years to fight in the trenches for unborn children and their mothers.” “President Trump has been unflinching in his leadership on the right to life,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “In contrast, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would support abortion on demand at any time, any where, for any reason and paid for with taxpayer funds.” President Trump noted the contrast between his “bold pro-life leadership with Joe Biden’s abortion extremism.” The Democratic Party unequivocally supports abortion on-demand, up until the moment of birth, and even infanticide — leaving babies to die after failed abortions. Joe Biden’s embrace of this extreme position is most evidenced by his support for taxpayer funding of abortion on-demand. Forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions is an abhorrent position that must be defeated at the ballot box. Joe Biden has doubled down on these positions with his selection of abortion extremist Kamala Harris as his running mate. “The proposed policies of Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris would roll back the clock on pro-life protections for women and their unborn children,” said Tobias. “President Trump will ensure that we continue moving forward during the next four years when he is re-elected.” Continue reading

For immediate release: Thursday, August 20, 2020 WASHINGTON — As the last day of the Democratic National Convention opens, the Democratic Party’s nominee for President, Joe Biden, will take the stage and accept the party’s nomination. But contrary to tonight’s convention theme of “America’s Promise,” a Biden/Harris ticket will fail in making America’s Promise possible for the most vulnerable among us: the unborn child. “A Biden/Harris ticket will be the most pro-abortion ticket in history,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. “Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris support radical abortion policies. A Biden/Harris administration would roll back protective legislation such as the Hyde Amendment and force taxpayers to pay for abortion on demand.” Joe Biden and Kamala Harris support the Democratic platform of unlimited abortion even through birth. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America. In their release endorsing Joe Biden, NARAL pointed out that a Biden/Harris presidency would “expand access” to abortion. In addition, NARAL also noted the real promises that a Biden/Harris administration would fulfill by promising to “only appoint judges” that would uphold Roe v. Wade and support the repeal of the Hyde Amendment. They also praised the Biden/Harris ticket for promising to reverse the Mexico City Policy which prevents federal tax dollars from being used by organizations that perform or promote abortions overseas. Continue reading

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 'Perfect 36' by passing the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted women the right to vote. Governor Roberts certified Tennessee's ratification on August 24 and it officially became a part of the U.S. Constitution on August 26. Congratulations to Tennessee and to women across the country. Tennessee women played a pivotal role in rallying support for the vote on August 18 and Tennessee women continue to play leading roles in carrying out TN Right to Life's mission to promote public respect for the dignity of every human life. Ann Brayley served as the first President of Tennessee Right to Life in 1975 and some of the women currently leading the way include: Stacy Dunn - Exec. Director of Tennessee Right to Life Knox County and Vice President of Tennessee Right to Life Trecia Dillingham - President of Wilson County Right to Life and Secretary of Tennessee Right to Life Katy Brown - Former Director of Church Outreach and current board member Karen Brukardt - Former legislative liaison for Tennessee Right to Life and current board member Caren Jordan - President of Crockett/Haywood Counties Right to Life and current board member Kanda Mowbray - President of Dickson County Right to Life and current board member Lorene Steffes - Former Yes on 1 grassroots trainer and current board member A majority of our staff and volunteers are women that are working every day to protect Life.  Continue reading

For immediate release: Monday, August 17, 2020 National Right to Life: The Democratic Party Fails “We the People” WASHINGTON — As the Democratic National Convention begins, the Democratic Party’s theme for the evening is “We the People,” but the party has grossly failed to protect the most vulnerable among us and, instead, has become the party of abortion. “Leaders of the Democratic Party are working in lock-step with pro-abortion groups and their demands,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “The Democratic Party and its leadership have failed vulnerable women and their unborn babies.” If elected, Democratic Party candidates for president and vice-president, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively, would be the most pro-abortion administration in history. A Biden/Harris administration would seek to: enshrine abortion on demand in federal law; appoint justices who will uphold abortion on demand; reverse the Trump Administration’s pro-life policies; reverse President Trump’s Title X rule that prevents pro-abortion groups from promoting or referring for abortions; promote abortion around the world by reversing the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance program which prevents federal taxpayer dollars from being used by abortion groups to perform or promote abortion overseas; abolish the Hyde Amendment and use federal tax dollars to pay for abortion on demand. Continue reading

For immediate release: Thursday, August 13, 2020 National Right to Life EndorsesBill Hagerty for Election to the U.S. Senate WASHINGTON — National Right to Life, the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide, has endorsed Bill Hagerty for election to the United States Senate from Tennessee. “National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Bill Hagerty for election to the U.S. Senate,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Bill Hagerty supports compassionate proposals to safeguard unborn children and their mothers from the pain of abortion.” Bill Hagerty supports the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This legislation would protect unborn children at 20 weeks, a point by which the unborn child is capable of experiencing great pain when being killed by dismemberment or other late abortion methods. Continue reading

For immediate release: Tuesday, August 11, 2020 Joe Biden Chooses Senator Kamala Harris as His Running Mate, National Right to Life Documents Her 0% Pro-life Voting Record WASHINGTON—Presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden today announced that Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) would be his vice-presidential running mate. By picking Senator Harris, Joe Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to abortion on demand at any time for any reason and paid for by taxpayers. Kamala Harris is the poster child for the extreme pro-abortion position of the Democratic Party. As a U.S. senator, Kamala Harris has a 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. By contrast, Sen. Harris’ abortion extremism earned her a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. “Sen. Harris supports a policy of abortion on demand at any time, any where, and under any circumstances,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Sadly, both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris see the lives of precious unborn babies as expendable. Joe Biden could not have picked a more extreme pro-abortion running mate.”  Tobias added, “Sen. Harris is so extreme on abortion she opposes even the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, legislation to protect unborn children from abortion after 20 weeks, when they are capable of feeling excruciating pain during dismemberment or other late abortion methods.” Continue reading