Iowa Attorney General Refuses to Defend 6-Week Abortion Ban

This follows Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Iowa filing suit earlier today — and a wave of recent actions from state attorneys general defending people’s rights

Washington, DC — Today, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced he would not defend a law that bars abortion after six weeks, which is before many women even know they’re pregnant. In a letter, Miller’s office attributed it to: “his core belief that the statute, if upheld, would undermine rights and protections for women.” 

Earlier today, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Iowa filed suit against the ban in Iowa state court. This ban is a direct violation of Supreme Court precedent set 45 years ago in Roe v. Wade, which guarantees a person’s constitutional right to access safe, legal abortion. The Iowa Constitution, too, protects this right. In fact, since Roe, all such bans have been blocked by the courts.  

This statement follows a wave of recent actions from state attorneys general to fight back against policies that threaten people’s rights, freedoms, and access to care at the state and federal level. Earlier today, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra -- joined by 19 state attorneys general -- filed an amicus brief in support of Planned Parenthood’s case to protect access to care through Title X, the nation’s program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care.

Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

We commend Attorney General Tom Miller for standing up for a woman’s right to control her own body, and decide for herself whether and when to become a parent. Not only is this ban blatantly unconstitutional, it’s also extremely harmful to women. We have to keep fighting to make sure everyone gets the health care they want and need, including access to safe, legal abortion.

When states restrict access to abortion, the harmful consequences disproportionately affect communities that already face systemic barriers to health care, including people of color, young people, those in rural areas, and those with low incomes. For some, traveling out of state for health care is not an option, and these women could be forced to carry a pregnancy to term against their will.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.