The Colorado Catholic Conference Supports HB26-1243, CDPHE Regulation of Abortion Clinics.

This is common sense legislation to ensure the safety of women in Colorado. Colorado is a national leader in abortion access and this bill does nothing to change that. But Colorado is also a national leader of putting thousands of women each year at risk because of unregulated abortion clinics. This bill changes that by simply ensuring abortion clinics are regulated at the same level as other

comparable surgical institution, such as ambulatory surgical centers and hospitals, because emergency care may be needed. Birthing centers are currently held to a higher regulatory threshold than abortion clinics but carry many of the same risks -- even just minutes away from each other. For instance, birthing centers such as Boulder Birth Center, are licensed, regulated and inspected, even though they care for low-risk pregnancies. But less than two miles from the Boulder birthing center is the Boulder Abortion Clinic, with no state oversight and potential for complications. Risks of surgical abortion may include pelvic infection, incomplete abortion, blood clots in the uterus, heavy bleeding and need for blood transfusion, cut or torn cervix, perforation of the wall of the uterus, stroke and high blood pressure. The risk from instrument-assisted third-trimester dilation and extraction abortions is substantial. Blood loss increases by 7% for each additional week increase in gestational age. And this is not without precedent. Last year, an article in the New York Times outlined the numerous

instances of failed abortions and misplaced IUDs in Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, which resulted in major health issues for the women involved. In Fort Collins, there are recent instances of one woman, losing her life due to abortion complication. There is no reason to not hold abortion clinics to the same standard as other surgical institutions. Last year, the Senate Judiciary passed out of committee SB25-183, which would codify public funding for abortion into state law. Now with, SB25-183 Colorado will substantially increase the number of abortions

in Colorado from in-state and out-of-state women. If HB26-1243 is not passed, our taxpayer dollars will be going to a medical practice that puts women in serious harm by not ensuring abortion clinics are regulated as other surgical institutions. The Colorado Catholic Conference urges a 'yes' vote on HB26-1243.