A national pro-life group, Susan B. Anthony List endorsed Congressman Rod Blum (R-Iowa) in his re-election bid in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. Blum faces a challenge from State Representative Abby Finkenauer (D-Dubuque) who overwhelmingly won a four-way Democratic primary for her party’s nomination.
In 2015, Blum co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, A bill that would implement equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States for the right to life of each born and preborn human person. He has voted in favor of the Born Alive Protection Act. Blum co-sponsored and voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act. He also voted for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and voted to defund Planned Parenthood in his vote for the American Health Care Act, a bill that would have replaced Obamacare.
Blum voted for Conscience Protection Act to codify the Weldon Amendment, which prevents the federal government from discriminating against hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals for refusing to pay for or participate in abortions. He also voted for H.J. Res. 43 to overturn the District of Columbia’s law called the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act (RHONDA) that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees for their “reproductive health decisions.” This law places a clear burden on pro-life and religious institutions in the District of Columbia such as Susan B. Anthony List.
Finkenauer in the Iowa House has voted against Iowa’s late-term abortion ban, heartbeat abortion ban, an ultrasound requirement, and against defunding Planned Parenthood of taxpayer funding. NARAL, Emily’s List, and Planned Parenthood have endorsed Finkenauer. She has been a proponent of taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand since elected the Iowa House.
“Congressman Rod Blum has championed the right to life throughout his time in office and Susan B. Anthony List is pleased to endorse him,” said former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List’s Vice President of Government Affairs. “Rep. Blum is an outspoken advocate of legislation to stop late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy and to protect babies who survive failed abortions. He has led the charge to investigate Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry for their role in the harvest and sale of baby body parts and redirect tax dollars away from abortion businesses to comprehensive health care alternatives.”
“We encourage pro-life Iowans to re-elect Rep. Blum, a trusted voice for the voiceless in Washington,” she added.
“I am extremely proud of this news from the SBA List in addition to my 100% voting record from the National Right to Life Committee. When I was elected to Congress, I promised my constituents to always advocate for those who cannot protect themselves. This promise applies to many of my stances in Congress– supporting proposals to improve security in our schools to protect our kids, strengthening Social Security to safeguard the benefits our seniors have paid into and rely on, offering a home to an inner-city orphan Malcolm, and in particular to today, continuing to defend the rights of the unborn,” Blum said in response to the endorsement.
Iowa’s 1st Congressional District’s race is considered a toss-up by Cook Political Report. Democrats have targeted Blum’s seat as a potential pick-up the past two election cycles as registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans. In the last two elections, Blum has carried independents, but the electoral make-up of the district keeps it competitive.
