DES MOINES, Iowa — After passing the full Iowa Senate earlier this month, lawmakers are allowing members of the public to speak about the impact of an amendment that would put in language in the Iowa Constitution regarding a woman's right to an abortion.
It was two hours of emotional testimony from mostly women, both pro-life and pro-choice Tuesday night in the Iowa Statehouse.
They hope lawmakers will consider their thoughts before choosing to move forward with the controversial change.
"I had to have an abortion at 23 weeks. because unlike the children you just heard about, my daughter didn't have lungs. and it was the only choice I could make," one woman said.
Gut-wrenching testimony from women who said they were forced to have abortions. Those who said they are the result of a difficult choice to not have one.
"In 1965, my biological grandmother was a victim of date rape. She became pregnant as a young teenager, and bravely carried my mother, then selflessly gave her up for adoption," one woman said.
Dozens on either side of the emotional issue came to hear as people shared with lawmakers what they think is a horror to allow.
"What about the life that could have been for this child, what is empowering about murder," one woman said.
Or a horror to restrict.
"Iowa is the state with the fewest obstetricians per capita. So we already have a major problem with access to obstetrical care," one woman said.
Outside the testimony, tense moments among those coming to watch, clashing on their interpretation of religion.
Both sides gave passionate pleas that the state will listen to what they feel is morally right.
The constitutional amendment reads, in part, that "the Constitution of the State of Iowa does not secure or protect the right to abortion or require the funding of abortion."
Senate Republicans introduced the piece of legislation last session but it failed to get support from a majority of the caucus.
Democratic lawmakers and pro-choice advocates have called the legislation extreme and an effort to eventually ban abortion in the state.
The amendment language does not outright say abortions would be banned, but the measure would make it easier for lawmakers to pass more restrictions in the future.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said in her Condition of the State speech in January that she supports an amendment supporting life.
A similar hearing was held two years ago at the statehouse over another life-related piece of legislation: the fetal heartbeat bill.
The legislation called for abortion to be banned once a baby's heartbeat could be detected, which is usually at six weeks after conception.
That bill was signed into law by Gov. Reynolds in 2018, but then was struck down by an Iowa judge for its unconstitutionality.
To be clear, if the amendment passes this does not mean abortions in our state will be banned.
However, pro-choice advocates and Democratic lawmakers fear that this change could lead to a ban down the road.