SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Jeremy Taylor, candidate for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in a five-way Republican primary, today released his “Defend Life” policy agenda and announced the endorsement of Martin Cannon, the lead counsel for the State of Iowa who defended Iowa’s “Heartbeat Bill” in front of the Iowa Supreme Court.
Cannon, who made a personal endorsement, is senior counsel with the Thomas More Society who defended Iowa’s fetal heartbeat abortion ban pro bono after Attorney General Tom Miller declined to do so.
“As the lead counsel for the state of Iowa’s defense of the heartbeat bill, I am personally and professionally invested in the cause of life. As a pro-life litigator for 30 years and a heavily engaged citizen, I have seen first-hand the many mindsets of our pro-life representatives,” Cannon said in a released statement.
“Jeremy Taylor thinks clearly. He has integrity. He is rock solid on the humanity and right to life of every unborn child. He is rock solid on every other issue important to conservatives. He expresses himself knowledgeably and forcefully. He engages effectively in hard discussions, retaining focus on the issue at hand,” he added. “Jeremy Taylor will be welcomed in Washington. With his character and energy, he will be an effective advocate for Iowans and our values. I urge pro-life voters in Iowa’s Fourth District to support Jeremy Taylor for Congress.”
Taylor also released his “Defend Life” agenda that consists of a ten-point plan:
- Sponsor and support a federal Heartbeat Bill, which would outlaw abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.
- Fight for the passage of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks, and any similar incremental legislation that will prevent even one abortion and defend the cause of life.
- Increase the federal tax credit for adoption to $20,000 and pass the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act, which would make the current adoption tax credit fully refundable.
- Fight to ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services allows people to opt-out of Affordable Care Act surcharges for abortion coverage.
- Support the Down Syndrome Discrimination by Abortion Prohibition Act, which would prohibit abortions on unborn babies with Down syndrome.
- Defend the Mexico City Policy, which strips American taxpayer funding for international groups that perform abortions.
- Pass legislation to make President Trump’s rule prohibiting clinics from referring patients to abortion providers through Title X the law.
- Fight for the free speech rights of pro-life activists and organizations. Stand up against media censorship of pro-life organizations and corporate boycotts of states that pass pro-life legislation.
- Ask Republican leadership in the House to assign me to the Judiciary Committee, which is where pro-life legislation is crafted.
- Defend the free speech and freedom of conscience rights of pastors, churches, faith leaders, religious organizations, and believers, and protect the tax-exempt status of churches as an absolute First Amendment right.
“As a Christian, as a father, and as a Chaplain, I believe that life is a gift from God. As an American who believes in the tenets of our Founders, I believe that government exists to preserve and protect our God-given inalienable rights. The first of those rights is the right to life. As a Congressman, I will always work to protect life, I will stand with those who stand for life, and I will be a fearless and passionate voice in the fight to change both the laws and the hearts of our fellow citizens,” Taylor said.
“My ‘Defend Life’ policy agenda focuses on specific legislation and pressing issues before Congress. The stakes are too high for broad generalities. This is where I stand. This is what I pledge to do when elected.”
