WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its annual “Abortion Surveillance Report” for the year 2022. The numbers show a decrease in abortions from the 2021 survey.

Relying on reports from health departments across the country, the CDC reported 613,383 abortions for 2022 compared to 625,978 abortions for 2021. While the CDC’s “Abortion Surveillance Report” is an indication of abortion trends, this figure does not provide a complete picture of abortion in the United States. California (the nation’s most populous state), Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey did not report abortion data to the CDC.

For context, it is important to remember that the 2022 report spans the pre-Dobbs and post-Dobbs U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2022 that reversed Roe v. Wade.

“With this report, the pro-life movement is encouraged to see the impact of pro-life legislation in states that passed laws to protect unborn children and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Sadly, in states where legislatures and governors have pushed for unlimited abortion, abortion numbers rose. Nevertheless, we are optimistic to see that overall, there appear to have been fewer abortions performed in the U.S. because of these new laws.”

Tobias continued, “The pro-life movement recognizes that there is still much work to be done to protect innocent unborn babies and their mothers.”

In 2022, in the reporting areas included in the report, the CDC found an abortion rate of 11.2 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, which is a decrease from 2021. The CDC found a ratio of 199 abortions per 1,000 live births, which is a decrease from 2021. 

“Unfortunately, the CDC report does not paint an accurate picture of abortion in the United States because of incomplete data,” continued Tobias. “It is imperative that Congress move to create a federal reporting requirement, so the CDC has better data on the impact of abortion.”

Tragically, based on Wednesday’s report, the percentage of chemical abortions performed rose to 57.6%. 

“The CDC report shows that the use of the chemical abortion method continues to rise,” said Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of Education and Research for National Right to Life. “Women are not being told the truth about these painful and dangerous abortifacients and until they are, the numbers will continue to grow. The FDA’s relaxation of safety standards of the drugs and the media’s and abortion industry’s incessant sales campaign have helped to increase sales of the drug combination.” 

Dr. O’Bannon continued, “Promoters of these pills claim high safety and satisfaction rates, but neglect to mention how painful and bloody these abortions are, and how often women taking these pills end up in emergency rooms hemorrhaging, dealing with infections, and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies. Unscreened women getting these pills in the mail may not be near help when they need it. More women, more babies will surely die.”

Sadly, the CDC also reported five deaths from legal abortion in 2021, the latest year numbers are available.

The full report from the CDC can be found here.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON—National Right to Life Committee, the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, congratulates newly-elected incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and the incoming Senate Republican leadership.

The following is a statement from Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life:

We congratulate the incoming pro-life leadership of the newly elected Senate majority. From Senator John Thune as Majority Leader to Senator John Barrasso as Majority Whip, National Right to Life looks forward to working with the incoming Senate leadership to enact policy initiatives that will protect the lives of unborn children and provide resources for moms and young parents.

The incoming Senate leadership includes pro-life leaders:

• Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Senate Majority Leader
• Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip
• Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), chairman of the Senate GOP Conference
• Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chair of the Senate GOP Policy Committee
• Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), vice chairman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee
• Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) 

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life, the federation of 50 state affiliates, praised the pro-life wins in several state referendums.

“Voters in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota saw through the money and lies of abortion industry-backed efforts to radically change their state constitutions,” stated Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life (NRLC). “Leaders such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Nebraska U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts boldly led the fight for life and never backed down. We thank our state affiliates Florida Right to Life, Nebraska Right to Life, South Dakota Right to Life, and our other affiliates fighting these measures, for their heroic efforts.”

Voters in West Virginia adopted Amendment 1 to ensure its citizens are not targeted through physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Tobias continued, “Amendment 1, a first-of-its-kind measure, protects vulnerable West Virginia citizens from physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, and other dangerous processes. We thank our affiliate, West Virginians for Life, for leading the charge to bring about this life-saving measure.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.

WASHINGTON—In a victory for life, Florida’s Amendment 4 has failed.

“By rejecting Amendment 4, Floridians saw through the lies and deceptions of the abortion industry-backed effort to legalize late-term abortion, remove parental consent and open the door to force taxpayer-funded abortions,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deserves special recognition for taking the abortion industry head on and setting a new standard for what it means to be a Pro-Life Champion as a state’s chief executive.”

National Right to Life Victory Fund is proud to have engaged in this contest at a historic level by making 4,481,988 voter contacts through streaming services, peer-to-peer texting, voice calls, door-to-door conversations and other online formats. All this comes in addition to the grassroot activities spearheaded by Florida Right to Life and other coalitions that united to defeat the radical Amendment 4.

“The pro-abortion lobby out spent the pro-life organizations more than 2-1 and still, in spite of the barrage of false claims about Florida’s heartbeat bill, they were defeated,” stated Lynda Bell, president of Florida Right to Life and co-founder of Do No Harm Florida. “We were grossly outspent, worked countless hours, drove across the state of Florida speaking out against this vile amendment and our grassroots team was second to none.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.