FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2022
Contact: Mary Owens, [email protected]
Washington, D.C. – By a vote of 32-2, the South Dakota Senate today passed legislation that codifies in law state-level safeguards blocking the distribution of dangerous chemical abortion drugs through telemedicine, proposed by Governor Kristi Noem. The legislation now heads to the governor’s desk for her signature.
In 2021 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.
Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser praised the South Dakota Legislature and Gov. Noem, saying:
“It gives us great hope to see these much-needed safeguards against dangerous abortion drugs pass with overwhelming support in the South Dakota Legislature and the tireless advocacy of Governor Noem. While Joe Biden and pro-abortion Democrats in Congress push a radical agenda of abortion on demand until birth and deceptively call it ‘women’s health,’ South Dakotans are fighting back. Mail-order abortion drugs pose a true threat to unborn children and their mothers, with women ending up in emergency rooms at alarming rates due to chemical abortion. We thank the legislature, Gov. Noem for her leadership, and all our South Dakota allies for prioritizing the safety of women and children and we look forward to seeing this bill signed swiftly into law.”
A recent, first-of-its-kind study found that the rate of abortion-related emergency room visits following a chemical abortion increased by more than 500% from 2002 through 2015. In the last year Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas have enacted state-level safeguards against mail-order abortion drugs, with additional states considering action.
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, and has proposed legislation to protect unborn children from abortion when their heartbeat can be detected.
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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