The Truth About Amendment 4

By U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

For the first time in half a century, voters across the country are making decisions about one of the most divisive issues in modern American politics: abortion. Or more accurately, at what stage in pregnancy it is acceptable to end the life of an unborn child.

I am unapologetically pro-life because it is our most fundamental right. Without life, the freedom of speech, assembly, and all the other rights we cherish are impossible. But I also recognize that this is not an easy issue. Many would-be moms find themselves in heartbreaking situations, and the question of how we regulate abortion creates an inherent conflict between two rights: the right of the mother and the right of her baby to live.

These are not easy conversations, and policy decisions should not be taken lightly, but we owe it to all of those who are yet to be born to have an honest conversation. Unfortunately, proponents of Amendment 4 are deliberately misleading Floridians about the sweeping nature of the proposed amendment.

It's worth asking yourself – and your friends, family, and neighbors  – what do you really know about Amendment 4?

Let’s start with the facts. Amendment 4 would allow abortion on demand, for virtually any reason, right up until the moment of birth. It would gut Florida’s parental consent law, remove safety standards that protect women, and open the door to mandatory taxpayer-funded abortion.

No Limits. While the amendment mentions “viability,” which is typically considered around 24 weeks, the term is undefined. What’s more, “viability” is followed by “or when necessary,” which creates a massive loophole that, when combined with other undefined terms, allows abortions for virtually any reason, up until the moment of birth.

No Parents. In 2020, Florida passed a law requiring parental consent for an abortion to be performed on a minor. Parental consent is the norm for every health care procedure, even prescribing acne medication to teens. Only 29 percent of voters oppose parental consent laws for abortion. However, Amendment 4 only allows for parental notification. It would prohibit parental consent because that would create an unlawful “delay.”

No Safety. The amendment does not require a medical doctor to approve an abortion after viability. Instead, Amendment 4 empowers a “healthcare provider” to make those life-and-death decisions. Under Florida law, that could mean anyone from the clinic receptionist to a physical therapist or a nutritionist.

No Guardrails. What’s more, the amendment would prohibit any law that “delays or restricts” abortion. Commonsense safety standards could be considered illegal, but so too could the lack of taxpayer funding. For example, the ACLU – a major backer of Amendment 4 – is suing to overturn Michigan’s ban on taxpayer-funding for abortions because it “delays” access to abortion.

These are undeniable facts, but before you vote, consider what this issue is about at its core:

At 6 weeks, an unborn baby’s heart begins to beat.

At 10 weeks, arms, hands, fingers, feet, and toes are fully formed.

At 15 weeks, your baby can feel pain.

At 21 weeks, your baby has a 50 percent chance of survival if they are born prematurely.

And at 39 weeks, Amendment 4 would legalize that baby’s death.

Almost no one – fewer than 10 percent of Americans – believes a fully developed baby should be aborted. No matter what you think of Florida’s current law, Amendment 4 is extreme and wrong.

Please, vote no on Amendment 4.