DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa’s congressional delegation responded to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion.
Republicans praised the opinion:
“(Friday’s) decision recognized that the weak legal reasoning in Roe v. Wade has done more to provoke conflict than to resolve it, as the late Justice Ginsburg observed. In a meticulous and well-reasoned opinion, the court dispensed with a flawed precedent, as it has rightly done in landmark decisions throughout history,” U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said.
“For many Americans, including myself, this decision is about far more than correcting a flawed legal analysis in Roe; it means that the rights of the unborn are no longer in jeopardy by our federal government. Our nation was founded on the fundamental principle we are endowed by our creator with the unalienable right to life – a right that must be protected,” he said.
“This ruling does not ban the practice of abortion but instead empowers the people, through their accountable elected representatives to make commonsense policy decisions. It takes policymaking out of the hands of unelected judges,” Grassley added.
“Regardless of your views on this issue, or any other issue for that matter, we all should respect the role of our impartial judiciary and the decisions that it renders. We’re blessed to live in a country where the people play a leading role in how we are governed. The people can advocate for policy priorities in the public square, the halls of Congress and at the ballot box, as so many pro-life Americans have done throughout the past five decades. Seeking to intimidate or attack the court or undermine its credibility because of an outcome that you don’t support is not the answer,” he concluded.
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said the decision gives power back to the people.
“I’m proudly and adamantly pro-life. This decision reflects the science, will save lives, and rightly returns policymaking power back to the American people and their elected officials,” she said.
U.S. Rep Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, said the decision will save lives.
“This decision will save countless lives. In Congress, I will continue to champion pro-life policies and work to support expecting mothers and their babies,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Mariannettte Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, applauded the ruling and pledged to help provide support for pregnant women.
“As a doctor, I believe that every life is precious and I have always and will always vote in support of protecting life and the unborn. Today, the Supreme Court made the important decision to allow individual states to be able to uphold the sanctity of life and protect the unborn,” she said.
“Just as I did when I was a State Senator, I will continue to work to ensure women have access to affordable contraceptives, quality maternal care, and provide support and increase awareness to adoption services,” Miller-Meeks added.
U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, said Friday was a “momentous” day for the pro-life movement and pro-life Americans.
“Since before I was elected to Congress, I have called for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, and after nearly fifty years, I am overjoyed that the sanctity of life has triumphed. By striking down Roe, we can truly live up to our highest moral values and allow states like Iowa – where we proudly defend innocent life – to codify laws that reflect our deepest convictions. As a Christian and father of four, I will always protect the unborn and vote to ensure that every child is guaranteed one of our most fundamental constitutional rights; the right to life,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, was the lone member of the delegation opposed to the decision, saying Friday was a tragic day for women and all Americans.
“The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is unconscionable, cruel, and take the power away from tens of millions of American women to make their own medical decisions,” she said.
“I have seen firsthand how much progress women have made towards equal pay and equal rights in recent years. Because of the Roe decision, women just like me have been able to go to college, have careers, and plan their lives and families on their own terms. It will disproportionately affect the poor, minority communities, and anyone who can’t travel to another state or country to receive lifesaving medical care,” she added.
“This decision takes our country back decades and threatens every American’s right to privacy. Put simply, this is discriminatory, unfair, upends 50 years of precedent, and goes against the majority opinion of the American people,” Axne concluded.
