STATEHOUSE (April 6, 2022) – A letter recently sent to the governor includes the names of Hendricks County lawmakers who are urging him to call a special session if the U.S. Supreme Court completely or partially overturns Roe v. Wade.
The nation’s highest court is expected to rule in June on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization where the state of Mississippi is challenging Roe. Assuming the Court completely or partially overturns Roe v. Wade, State Reps. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon), Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) and Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) stand ready to reconvene at the Statehouse to pass legislation to better protect the sanctity of life.
“When the opportunity comes to save the unborn, we need to act immediately,” Steuerwald said. “Because the legislature is not in session, we urge our governor to call us back to the Capitol should Roe be partially or wholly overturned.”
Indiana Right to Life estimates an additional 4,000 abortions would occur in the state if the General Assembly waits until the 2023 legislative session to address any changes to Roe v. Wade.
“It’s our duty as lawmakers to protect these defenseless Hoosiers,” Thompson said. “If the Supreme Court repeals or limits Roe, we have an obligation to take action as soon as possible to save more of the unborn.”
Since 2008, abortions dropped by 29% in Indiana and are currently less than half of the state’s all-time high of over 16,500 in 1980. Behning said with years of strong conservative leadership, Indiana ranks at the top of the 2021 Defending Life report card from Americans United for Life.
“Protecting life at every step is my highest priority, which is why I consistently vote for legislation protecting the unborn and supporting our most vulnerable,” Behning said. “Indiana has made great progress reducing the number of abortions, but more must be done. If the courts uphold the challenge to Roe, I stand ready to join my colleagues to take legislative action to save thousands of lives. I hope the governor is following this case closely and will immediately call for a special session so lawmakers can act quickly.”
This legislative session, Steuerwald, Thompson and Behning supported a new law making it a felony in Indiana to coerce a woman into having an abortion. The law also holds abortion clinics accountable for failing to report coercion to law enforcement. According to a 2017 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons study, nearly 75% of the 987 American women who participated in an after-abortion survey admitted they experienced at least subtle forms of pressure to terminate their pregnancies.
Click here for a copy of the letter sent to the governor.
