For Immediate Release: June 28, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
Thousands of Unborn Children Are Now Protected in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa –The lives of babies with beating hearts are now protected in Iowa following today’s Supreme Court decision lifting the injunction on the Fetal Heartbeat Act. The justices’ ruling that sends the case back to the lower courts dealt a blow to Planned Parenthood in declaring the court has not previously made a determination “whether the Iowa Constitution provided an independent right to obtain an abortion.”
Today’s ruling makes Iowa the 18th state with a law in effect protecting unborn children who have a heartbeat. The law is estimated to protect 2,093 lives annually.
Neesha Lewis, a Georgia mom and medical professional, applauded Iowa’s heartbeat law taking effect. When she became unexpectedly pregnant, she called to schedule an abortion but was told her state had a heartbeat limit. Through a friend at church, she was connected with a pregnancy center and pursued an open adoption. She says she is thankful the Georgia heartbeat law was in place.
“I am so happy that babies in Iowa will now be protected by a heartbeat law. Georgia’s heartbeat law saved my beautiful son’s life, and now in Iowa, more babies like mine will be given the chance at life. I know firsthand that an unplanned pregnancy can be scary, but there is help out there for mothers like me who need support and care before, during and after birth.”
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser also celebrated the win for life:
“Iowa took a giant step forward today in the human rights struggle to protect babies in the womb. The Fetal Heartbeat Act protects 2,093 lives annually at the point in pregnancy when unborn children have over a 90% chance of surviving. More boys and girls will be given the right to live and the opportunity to bless their families, serve their communities, and fulfill their God-given purpose on this earth. We thank Gov. Kim Reynolds, Attorney General Brenna Bird, and legislators for persisting in the fight for life and representing the people’s will to protect babies with a heartbeat.”
Today’s decision comes one year after the state Supreme Court prevented Iowa’s pre-Dobbs heartbeat protection from taking effect. Following the ruling, Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special session to pass a new heartbeat law. Days after Reynolds signed the Fetal Heartbeat Act, a judge blocked the protection with an injunction.
Gov. Reynolds signed more pro-life legislation into law this year adding to the state’s safety net for those with unplanned pregnancies. The new measures include SF 2251 which extends Medicaid for new mothers to the first full year after giving birth and SF 2252 which allows the Department of Health and Human Services to partner directly with pregnancy resource centers to support pregnant women and new mothers.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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