FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2022
Contact: Mallory Carroll, [email protected]
Noem, South Dakota Lawmakers Raising the Bar for Pro-life Protections
Washington, D.C. – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem announced today the filing of two pro-life bills: one that protects unborn children from abortion when their heartbeat can be detected, and one that codifies in law state-level safeguards blocking the distribution of dangerous chemical abortion drugs through telemedicine. The latter rules were previously approved by the South Dakota Legislature’s Interim Rules Review Committee.
Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser praised Gov. Noem and the South Dakota Legislature’s initiatives, saying:
“We’re proud to again stand with Gov. Noem and pro-life South Dakotans in their tireless efforts to make South Dakota the safest place in the nation for unborn children and their mothers. The legislation introduced today will save the lives of babies in the womb, with beating hearts like you and me, and establish permanent state-level safeguards for women’s health and safety against dangerous mail-order abortion drugs. Under Gov. Noem’s bold leadership, South Dakota continually raises the bar for pro-life protections in America.”
Noem has previously signed into law measures that ensure babies born alive after failed abortions receive medical care and that stop lethal discrimination abortions based on a Down syndrome diagnosis.
Last month the Biden administration moved to weaken longstanding federal safety regulations against mail-order abortion drugs designed to protect women from serious health risks and potential abuse. The Biden administration policy allows for dangerous at-home, do-it-yourself abortions without necessary medical oversight. Biden has also nominated former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf to resume the role he held under Barack Obama. During his tenure, he oversaw the limiting of reporting requirements for complications after chemical abortion – obscuring the real dangers of abortion drugs despite evidence they are unsafe.
A recent, first-of-its-kind study authored by Dr. James Studnicki and a team of experts at the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) found that chemical abortion is a major public health threat. The study found that the rate of abortion-related emergency room visits following a chemical abortion increased by more than 500% from 2002 through 2015. By analyzing 423,000 confirmed abortions, CLI scholars also found that the rate of chemical abortion-related ER visits is growing much faster than surgical abortion-related ER visits, and chemical abortion makes subsequent abortions more dangerous.
SBA List is a network of 900,000 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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