Reproductive rights advocates on Wednesday condemned the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation, passed by the Iowa State Senate early in the morning by lawmakers hoping to eventually overturn Roe vs. Wade.
The so-called "heartbeat bill" (Senate File 359) outlaws abortion care for women after a fetal heartbeat is detectable, generally at around six weeks of pregnancy. According to the American Pregnancy Association, most women find out they are pregnant between four and seven weeks, meaning the bill would effectively ban most abortions in Iowa. Some exceptions would be permitted for survivors of rape or incest and to save the life of the woman seeking an abortion.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund called the bill "dangerous," while the group's midwestern branch, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, called it an "intentionally unconstitutional ban on 99 percent of safe, legal abortion, designed to challenge Roe v. Wade."
"The bill weaponizes fetal heartbeat, which is by all accounts an arbitrary standard that bans abortion long before the point of fetal viability," communications manager Becca Lee told Reuters.
The Associated Press reported that while Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has not signed the bill yet, her office has indicated that she will.
Iowa's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds hasn't said if she will sign the nation's most restrictive abortion measure into law. But her office has indicated she will. https://t.co/7jFLlBrOBB
— AP Central U.S. (@APCentralRegion) May 2, 2018
As the Des Moines Register reported, Republican lawmakers who supported the bill openly stated their hopes that the extreme abortion ban would be signed into law and then face legal challenges, eventually advancing to the Supreme Court for a fight over Roe vs. Wade:
The Supreme Court has declined to hear similar cases in recent years. But as states continue to pass legislation restricting abortions and President Donald Trump appoints more conservative federal judges, such as Justice Neil Gorsuch, abortion opponents are increasingly optimistic.
Republican Sen. Rick Bertrand of Sioux City said he hopes the bill's passage makes Iowa "ground zero nationally for the life [anti-abortion] movement and the starting line back to the Supreme Court."
Measures like Senate File 359 have been struck down in recent years by courts in North Dakota and Arkansas.
Women's rights advocates said Wednesday that they were prepared to fight the legislation and other attempts to curtail abortion access and to challenge women's constitutional right to obtain abortion care.
Iowa lawmakers have again taken extreme measures to block access to safe, legal abortion. Rest assured, we are not backing down. PPHeartland will continue to provide compassionate, quality care—including abortion—no matter what. #WeWontGoBack #WePersist https://t.co/AncxrpS75A
— Planned Parenthood (@PPHeartland) May 2, 2018
We have gotten word that today, the IA House GOP will be running the unconstitutional six week abortion ban legislation. I have served in this chamber for 4 years. Every year they have gone after women. Every year, I have proudly stood up & fought back. We will not back down. 1/4
— Abby Finkenauer (@Abby4Iowa) May 1, 2018
“It is time for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue of life,” said state Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R), the bill’s floor manager.
They did. It was called Roe v. Wade and it's saved many, many women over the years.https://t.co/nLM5dYKnNg via @amanduhgomez
— Melanie Schmitz ‼️ (@MelsLien) May 2, 2018
