Three abortion clinics in Philadelphia were shuttered last year over failed inspections. Two abortion clinics in Delaware that closed this year are likely to stay that way. And without government funding, Planned Parenthood of Indiana has said it may be forced to close 13 of its clinics.

Life advocates are celebrating, because with fewer abortion clinics and fewer dollars going to Planned Parenthood, it’s likely that fewer babies will be aborted.

The Pennsylvania House voted 148-43 on May 11 to regulate abortion clinics as outpatient surgery centers. HB 574 now moves to the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans.

The bill comes in response to the “House of Horrors,” one of three Philadelphia abortion clinics that were shut down last year when the state began inspecting all of its abortion clinics — something that hadn’t been done in more than 15 years.

The “House of Horrors” owner, abortionist Kermit Gosnell, remains jailed on eight murder charges. Prosecutors say he killed babies who survived late-term abortions, and at least one woman. Two Delaware clinics tied to Gosnell also have closed.

Pennsylvania Rep. Margo Davidson, a pro-abortion Democrat, testified that her cousin died at the hands of Gosnell.

“I’ve listened to the debate of House Bill 574, sometimes with tears in my eyes,” she said. “Mr. Speaker, I respect the sanctity of life, and I respect the sanctity of life of women. I am supporting House Bill 574 on behalf of my cousin, who was killed at the Gosnell clinic.”

Yet, Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union continue to fight the legislation. “They don’t want these kinds of safety regulations on abortion clinics because they want abortion to have special protections,” said Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Council. “That just exposes the upside-down world of Planned Parenthood, where they think that creating stronger health and safety regulations for abortion clinics somehow makes it more dangerous for women. The dangerous thing is to allow groups like Planned Parenthood to continue to have free rein and get taxpayer dollars.”

In Indiana, a 2-day-old law has stopped the flow of taxpayer money to the state’s 28 Planned Parenthood clinics. An attorney for the nation’s largest abortion seller said it may be forced to close 13 of those.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has reassured women that “non-abortion services, whether family planning or basic women’s health, will remain readily available in every one of our 92 counties.”

The state’s Family and Social Services Administration has confirmed the governor’s statement.

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