For Immediate Release: February 28, 2024
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Measure Stops Abortion Lobby Misinformation from Endangering Women
Pierre, S.D. – A bipartisan bill to protect pregnant women’s lives is advancing to the Senate for a final vote. The Med Ed Bill that received approval by the Senate State Affairs Committee today is sponsored by Sen. Erin Tobin (R), Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R), Rep. Joh Hansen (R), Rep. Oren Lesmeister (D), and 26 other lawmakers to establish clarity to medical professionals on the ability and necessity of providing emergency care to pregnant women under South Dakota’s life at conception law.
After passing through the House State Affairs Committee with no opposing testimony and by a 63-6 vote in the House, the ACLU attended the hearing this morning to register their dissatisfaction. Kelsey Pritchard, state public affairs director for SBA Pro-Life America, shared her response:
“The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is not political. Pro-life or pro-choice, supporting this policy is the right thing to do. We’re disappointed but not surprised that the ACLU wants to stop this bill that protects women’s lives. The abortion lobby wants confusion over whether a pregnant woman can receive emergency care to persist as justification for their agenda of no limits on abortion. Their dangerous lie is putting women at risk and as a mom who recently had a baby girl in South Dakota, I thank Rep. Rehfeldt and all of those who have supported this bill for protecting women in our state.”
In this morning’s hearing, Sen. Erin Tobin said:
“Our laws have always allowed moms to receive treatment for miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, as well as lifesaving care and medical emergency, and they still do. . . HB 1224 is an actual way to battle misinformation in the state of South Dakota. We as legislators representing mothers, babies, and families can make sure our trigger law is understood by all and allow comfort and reassurance as we grow our families and communities.”
Those who testified in favor of the bill today included Ian Fury of Gov. Kristi Noem’s office, the secretary of the Department of Health, the Attorney General’s Office, SD Right To Life and Sanford Health. Ally Brandner, lobbyist for Sanford Health, said in the hearing:
“At Sanford, we realize that we are entrusted with both the life of the pregnant mother and the child, and we appreciate the sponsor’s efforts to provide clarity.”
The South Dakota Med Ed Bill is the first legislation of its kind drafted to end the confusion caused by the abortion industry through direct education to medical professionals. Other states have taken similar steps administratively, including Oklahoma and Kentucky attorneys general issued advisory opinions.
Under HB 1224, the materials will be established through the Department of Health and with input from the attorney general, medical professionals and legal experts. The video will cover the details of the state’s abortion law, the most common medical conditions that threaten the life or health of a pregnant woman, the standards of care for treating a pregnant woman in a medical emergency, and a practitioner’s ability to use reasonable medical judgment in all situations.
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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The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
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