DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa House of Representatives held a public hearing on Tuesday evening on HJR 2004, the Protect Life Amendment, which is the successor to HSB 577 that passed in the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month.
The proposed language to the Iowa Constitution reads, “To defend the dignity of all human life, and to protect mothers and unborn children from efforts to expand abortion even to the day of birth, we the people of the State of Iowa declare that this Constitution shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.”
The hearing lasted two hours and after State Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, gave opening remarks, 22 Iowans spoke in support of the constitutional amendment and 18 spoke against. Both sides were provided equal opportunity to speak, but there were more people willing to speak in favor of the amendment than against and the “pro” side still had speakers on the wait list when the hearing ended.
Hundreds of Iowans filled the capitol rotunda representing both sides. The hearing was held in the old Iowa Supreme Court chambers.
The FAMiLY Leader captured video of the event.