As they work to finalize a budget, lawmakers in the Lone Star State are considering a provision in the bill that would pump $20 million over two years into the “Alternatives to Abortion” program – almost doubling the current level of funding. According to the Texas Health and Human Services website, the program “provides low-income pregnant women with pregnancy and parenting information” – including counseling referral, support groups in maternity homes, and infant supplies (e.g., car seats, diapers, and formula).

Kyleen Wright of the Texans for Life Coalition tells OneNewsNow the increased funding is needed because Texas is saving so many babies from abortion now.

“Our abortion numbers in Texas are about half what they were only a decade or so ago,” she shares, “and so we are delivering a lot more babies – and our pregnancy centers are overwhelmed.”

Wright says the money will be put to good use. “That money is used for counseling with these women in the pregnancy centers,” she explains. “The state reimburses them for some of the services – in particular the counseling and adoption counseling as well – so that these women have real choices and not just an abortion choice.”

In just the last five or six years, Texas has seen the number of abortions reduced by approximately 50,000, an indication the pro-life campaign is working.

After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of Texas’ abortion clinic health and safety law, some of the closed abortion clinics have begun to reopen. But indications are they aren’t attracting much business.

The Texas budget bill is now in a House/Senate conference committee.