Texas Is First State to Authorize Statue on Capitol Grounds Honoring Pregnant Mother and Child

Texas will erect the Texas Life Monument, a statue honoring mothers and the sanctity of life, after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a resolution Tuesday authorizing the monument be built. The legislation passed with a large majority of support in the Texas Legislature.

According Tim Van Dohlen, co-founder of the St. John Paul II Life Center and Vitae Clinic in Austin who helped devise the project, Abbott’s signature made Texas the first state to approve of a pro-life statue honoring mother and child on Capitol grounds.

State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, co-author of the resolution, said, “The eight-foot bronze sculpture is modeled after the National Life Monument, which depicts a mother with her child in her womb—a powerful image honoring motherhood and the miracle of life.”

“The monument provides a communal space for honoring the dignity of human life and the role of mothers—values that resonate deeply with many, many Texans,” the resolution’s other co-author, state Sen. Tan Parker, said.

While the resolution failed to pass in the Texas House in 2023, it passed last month with overwhelming majorities in the Texas Senate (22-9) and the House (94-47).

“The viewers of the sculpture literally see themselves in the center of the work, symbolizing their connection to this creative source,” said Timothy Schmalz, the statue’s sculptor.

“[The resolution] recognizes the great significance of a woman and the importance of a mother to every family,” said Van Dohlen in his committee testimony advocating for the project. “The family has been and continues to be the integral foundation for the stability of Texas and American society.”