Any ban or restriction on abortion is harmful and takes away Iowans’ ability to control their body and future
Des Moines, IA— Today, Governor Kim Reynolds announced the Iowa Legislature will convene for a special session on July 11, 2023, to restrict abortion care. This comes just weeks after an Iowa Supreme Court order denied Gov. Reynolds’ request to implement a ban that would have outlawed abortion at around six weeks of pregnancy, well before most people know they are pregnant. With the 2018 ban permanently put to rest by the courts, Republicans are taking new steps to attack essential health care.
Pursing abortion bans goes against the will of Iowans, 61% of whom support safe and legal abortion. The effort is part of a years-long trend by anti-abortion politicians to cut access to health care in Iowa and would only further health inequities. Iowans are increasingly traveling out of state to access necessary abortion care due to current restrictions. Gov. Reynolds also funneled $2 million in taxpayer money to anti-abortion centers this year, while attorney general Brenna Bird paused funding for sexual assault survivors to receive emergency contraceptives and, if needed, abortion care.
Statement from Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States:
“Since the fall of Roe an intentional patchwork of laws has created confusion—a lot of people don’t know what they can do legally and where they are protected. Only two weeks ago, the Iowa Supreme Court blocked a near-total abortion ban. Now Governor Kim Reynolds is stoking new fear and confusion at the expense of Iowans who are simply trying to access the essential health care they need. The whiplash Iowans are experiencing right now is unconscionable.”
Statement from Mazie Stilwell, Director of Public Affairs of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa:
“Calling a special session in the middle of summer for the sole purpose of stripping Iowans of the liberties they prize is not only unprecedented but shows the drastic lengths power-hungry politicians will take to pass deeply unpopular policies. A growing majority of Iowans support abortion access. Make no mistake—we are prepared to mobilize supporters across the state to demand state legislators reject any proposed abortion ban or further restrictions on abortion care.”
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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa (PPAI) is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a mission of fostering and preserving a social and political climate favorable to reproductive health. To meet this mission, PPAI engages in lobbying, issues education, and supporter mobilization.
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