Iowa House Begins Debate on Legislation to Amend Iowa Constitution and End Iowans’ Right to Abortion

Des Moines, IA— Republican leaders of the Iowa House could begin debate as early as Friday on the proposed state constitutional amendment that would eliminate Iowans’ right to safe, legal abortion. The Iowa Senate passed a similar amendment earlier this year. If HJR 2004 is passed, this amendment would add language to the Iowa Constitution that would take away the right to safe, legal abortion. Planned Parenthood has been leading efforts to stop the proposed amendment, including testifying at the Capitol and educating Iowans about the proposed amendment.

“Iowans oppose a constitutional amendment that would take away the right to safe, legal abortion. Iowans should be able to make their own personal medical decisions. Choosing whether and when to have children is a decision between an individual, their doctor, their family and their faith,” said Erin Davison-Rippey, Iowa Executive Director for Planned Parenthood North Central States. “Iowans do not want their representatives to push through a constitutional amendment, let alone to focus on stripping away our rights while we are in this urgent fight to address systemic racism and policy brutality, all while we continue to battle a global pandemic. Our representatives are not hearing Iowans, and we will keep organizing for change until they listen.”

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Planned Parenthood North Central States and its subsidiary organizations provide, promote, and protect reproductive and sexual health through high-quality care, education and advocacy. A member of America’s most trusted reproductive health care provider, our affiliate is proud to support and operate 29 health centers across our five-state region (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota). Each year, we provide health care to nearly 100,000 people and health education to more than 99,000 people in our region.