Candidate for Congress leads Iowa reproductive rights roundtable amid legislation concerns

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KGAN) — While the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments over the abortion pill Tuesday, an Iowa congressional candidate hosted a roundtable to discuss reproductive rights and in vitro fertilization.

Christina Bohannan is challenging Iowa Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks on the ballot this year, and rallying against Republicans when it comes to reproductive rights.

She first shared her story with Iowa's News Now last month, after the Alabama's Supreme Court's ruling defining embryos as children brought up memories of her own IVF journey, which was unsuccessful.

Now, Bohannan is leading a larger conversation about pregnancy and abortion, and calling for legislative support.

She also highlighting concerns that Congress's Life at Conception Act seeks to define personhood at fertilization, creating unintended consequences.

Bohannan also condemned an Iowa bill that would legally define the term "unborn person."

"Any of us without an MD or a DO medical degree would be at risk of being charged with a class B felony if we damage or lost, and it happens, an embryo during the process. And when this happens, we're fully transparent with our patients," said Dr. Amy Sparks, IVF lab director at the University of Iowa.

But right now, that Iowa bill is currently tabled in the State Senate because of the potential impact to IVF.

"But it's very important we understand that that was a serious attempt, it made it all the way through the Iowa House of Representatives," said Bohannan.

Now, the congressional candidate is encouraging more people to share their personal stories of IVF and abortion, while pushing back on legislation impacting reproductive health care.

"We need to make sure that people have safe access to reproductive healthcare in the privacy of their own homes. Some of the efforts we've seen from my opponent and others would make that kind of drug and that kind of access impossible," said Bohannan.

"I think life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness includes providing reproductive rights to people, and our best hope is to register to vote and to go out there and vote in every election," said Sue Johannsen, a roundtable participant.

Iowa GOP Reps Randy Feenstra and Ashley Hinson have signed on to this year's Life at Conception Act.

Miller-Meeks signed on to the bill in 2021, but she hasn't signed on to the most recent version.

Iowa's News Now did reach out to Miller-Meeks' office for a statement on Tuesday and are waiting to hear back.