Victorious and crushing day in the fight for reproductive health in Iowa

Dear Progressoid,

Yesterday, March 2, 2017, was an equally victorious and crushing day in the fight for reproductive health in Iowa. The Senate and House Human Resources Committees held meetings to consider their respective 20-week abortion ban bills – SF 53 and HF 298 – and the Senate Judiciary Committee held a meeting to consider SF 253, the “personhood bill.”


These bills are a coordinated and cruel attempt to force a singular, ideological belief into Iowa law, turning back the clock on women’s health and preventing Iowa women and their doctors from accessing and providing the best medical care available.

Successes

The House Human Resources Committee failed to advance HF 298, which was an overreaching and dangerous attempt to ban abortions after 20 weeks. HF 298 made no exceptions for the often devastating decisions women and their doctors face when serious fetal anomalies are discovered after 20 weeks.


The Senate Judiciary Committee failed to advance SF 253, which sought to define life as beginning at conception. SF 253 was a thinly veiled, unconstitutional attempt to ban abortion in the state of Iowa.

Challenges

The Senate Human Resources Committee advanced an amended version of SF 53, a 20-week abortion ban bill, in a 9 – 3 vote. While Sen. Chelgren attempted to address serious barriers to women who discover fetal anomalies late in pregnancy through his amendment, the amended bill still does not address all cases of serious fetal anomalies.

We will continue to fight SF 53, the 20-week abortion ban, and SF 2, which seeks to defund Planned Parenthood. The victories in the House and Senate have given us a boost during this unprecedented onslaught on reproductive health. And, now more than ever, we need to use that boost to keep up the pressure on Iowa lawmakers. We need to continue to bang the drum loud and strong in support of every Iowan's and their doctor's right to make the best health decisions possible and ensure that the best health care is available.

Join us in reminding Iowa lawmakers that 77% of Iowans, including 62% of Republicans and evangelicals, support public funding for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. If you haven't already signed our petition, please sign today. If you have signed, please share it with 10 of your contacts to help spread the word.

Thank you for your ongoing, steadfast support of Planned Parenthood and the expert, nonjudgmental health care we provide. We couldn't do it without you!

Standing strong and fighting back,


Jamie Burch Elliott
Public Affairs Manager
Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa