In order to protect the health of women in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I urge the Department of Health to not relax the regulations that have been passed over numerous years by the Virginia General Assembly. Facilities which offer abortion services should be regulated just as other surgical facilities. In addition, since every abortion ends a human life, there should be waiting periods to ensure that women have an opportunity to fully understand what they are about to do.

The regulations we have in place will help to ensure that abortion facilities are clean and provide services in a manner that shows respect to the women who are their patients.