For the last 10 years, it has been a privilege serving as your voice at the Statehouse. While serving Pike, Spencer and Warrick counties as your state representative, I relied heavily on your input to ensure good public policy was put forward. I always tried to listen to our community to support legislation that aligned with Southwest Indiana values.
I am incredibly passionate about protecting unborn children and expectant mothers. Throughout my time at the Statehouse, I proposed and supported legislation prohibiting state agencies from partnering with groups that perform abortions, and helping expectant mothers, who are carrying a child with a health condition or disability, connect to resources. I supported funding for programs like Indiana's Safety P.I.N grants and the Maternal and Child Health Helpline to build up a network of local resources to help struggling families and improve infant mortality. I also co-sponsored a law informing mothers of burial options for their miscarried or aborted child. Every life is precious, and no one should feel like abortion is the only option because of lack of resources and support.
Empowering women and providing information about their health is important – especially when they are caring for another life. A highlight of my time at the Statehouse was when part of a law I co-authored requiring ultrasounds at least 18 hours before a woman undergoes an abortion was ruled constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Providing as much information as possible to mothers about their health and the condition of their baby is crucial in any decision-making process.
A few years ago, when a concerning number of student athletes experienced health-related incidents on the field, I authored a series of laws requiring coaches of students in grades 5 to 12 to be trained to recognize the signs of concussion, heat exhaustion and other cardiac-related conditions.
To help the growing number of Americans forced into sex trafficking each year, I supported legislation expanding the definition of trafficking to make it easier for law enforcement and prosecutors to crack down on specific offenders and networks. In addition, we also required the names of victims to be kept confidential in public records. I also supported changing Indiana's law that allowed 15 year olds to marry if they have parental consent. Now, children 16 to 17 years old may only marry if an individual's intended spouse is no more than four years older, the juvenile courts approve, the child receives premarital counseling and meets additional requirements. There have been instances where minor females were forced by their parents to marry older men, which was harmful to their mental and physical health.
Other notable laws I've supported over the years include the 21st Century Scholarship program helping students from low-income families go to college, Community Crossings grants improving local infrastructure and broadband expansion programs. I also supported the creation of the Blue Alert System to notify the public when a police officer is killed, missing or seriously injured in the line of duty, and improvements to the licensure process for several health care professions.
I am honored to have helped the Indiana General Assembly move our state forward over the last decade. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community and for trusting me to represent your voice. I am forever grateful to have served as your state representative.
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State Rep. Ron Bacon (R-Chandler) represents House District 75,
which includes portions of Warrick, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
