It took three years of trying, but 35-year-old Vanessa Riley finally became pregnant. Hoping to tell her parents for Christmas whether a granddaughter or grandson was coming, Vanessa paid out of pocket for an early ultrasound at 16 weeks, instead of waiting for the typical 20.

What she found was heartbreaking--open neural tube defects and spinal growth outside of the fetus' body. Vanessa decided to terminate the pregnancy. Later, she testified in front of the Texas Legislature to oppose a proposed 20-week abortion ban:

"If we had waited until the 20-week ultrasound, like most women, we would have had to leave the state to get the procedure. These laws are widely promoted as protecting the health of women and their babies, yet they will deny those same women access to care and force medically dangerous pregnancies to be taken to term."

A nearly all-male body of Republicans just voted to pass a ban on abortion after 20 weeks in the House. It would throw doctors in jail for up to five years. With Trump in the White House, Senate Democrats are the only defense that women with difficult pregnancies and their doctors have. Unless we speak out, more Democrats will side with House Republicans and against women like Vanessa. Will you speak up again and sign the petition?

Photo credit: NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, licensed for reuse