Joni Ernst: “last Friday, thousands of Americans and many Iowans braved nearly freezing temperatures to join this year's March for…”

“last Friday, thousands of Americans and many Iowans braved nearly freezing temperatures to join this year's March for Life. I stand united with them in a simple truth: Life is a gift worth protecting. This isn't just a political belief for me; it is deeply personal. When I first became a mother and more recently a grandmother, holding my daughter and my grandson in my arms and watching them grow will always be cherished moments for me. I want to protect and preserve this same experience for young mothers everywhere, which is why I am thankful for the folks who gather year after year at the March for Life to call for action on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves--the unborn. For years, I worked alongside their mission and called on the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional right to life. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court answered, returning these decisions to voters on a State-by-State basis. Several States, including my home State of Iowa, led by Governor Reynolds, took a strong stance and protected babies from the moment doctors detect a fetal heartbeat. Unfortunately, the number of abortions across the country has generally increased since 2022. Another sad truth is that I must use the word ``generally.'' There is not a single, complete set of abortion data publicly reported for all 50 States. No one is keeping count. The sanctity of life in our Nation deserves better.…”