Tran defends herself after national backlash from abortion bill

Del. Kathy Tran, D-Springfield, was once known for campaigning with her youngest daughter and nursing her on the Virginia House floor. Today, she is being accused by Republicans nationwide of encouraging the murder of children.

Tran’s proposal for a bill which would eliminate certain abortion requirements for Virginian women, HB2491, received intense national backlash this week, following its subcommittee hearing in the Committee for Courts of Justice on Monday.

A video of Tran testifying about her bill began circulating the Internet earlier this week. Almost instantly, it drew criticism from Republican lawmakers throughout the country, including President Trump.

In her testimony, Tran was questioned by Subcommittee Chair Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, who essentially asked her how late in the third trimester a physician could perform an abortion. Gilbert then asked if her bill would allow a woman to request an abortion while she is dilating.

After a moment of brief hesitation, with a wince on her face, Tran responded that the decision would depend on the judgment of the woman and her provider, but she clarified that, yes, her bill would allow it.

In a variety of published and broadcast reports, Republicans said Democrats were supporting infanticide, while Democrats said they were victims of election year theatrics.

In a radio interview, Gov. Ralph Northam said the exchange was “blown out of proportion,” but also suggested that a woman and her doctor could have a “discussion” about what to do with a non-viable or deformed infant who survived birth.

In the interview with WTOP radio, Northam said: “So, in this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen. The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired,” Northam said. “And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”

Tran, who deactivated her Twitter account after the social media firestorm her recorded exchange with Gilbert started, released a statement on the recently reactivated account this morning, further explaining her bill.

“I know women in my family, women in my district and women across Virginia who have had to make the very personal decision as to whether or not they’re going to have an abortion,” Tran said. “That’s why I introduced a bill to repeal the medically unnecessary and unduly burdensome barriers that Virginian women face when they’re accessing this healthcare service in consultation with their doctor.”

Tran explained that she was surprised by the line of questioning she received, regarding her bill. She also acknowledged that the bill had already been introduced in the General Assembly in previous years, and was introduced in the Senate this session.

Del. Kaye Kory, D-Falls Church, who is a co-patron for HB2491, said she could not publicly comment on the bill, except to say that current Virginia law allows abortion during and after the second trimester under certain circumstances, and Tran’s bill does not change that.

In her Twitter video statement, Tran said that the purpose of her bill was to ensure that women were able to make the decision of having an abortion and access the services to be able to do so in a timely manner.

Though Tran is aware of the criticism her bill has attracted, she also recognized the support she has received from women in her district and across Virginia for her efforts to prevent politicians from interfering with a woman’s healthcare decisions.

“I appreciate their support, and I will continue to stand with the women in Virginia,” Tran said.