爱荷华州的立法者周二早上开始了一次特别会议，其“唯一目的”是通过限制堕胎的立法.
不到一个月前，该州最高法院陷入僵局的下级法院关于六周堕胎禁令的禁令是否应该撤销，从而使该程序在爱荷华州合法。
作为回应，州长金·雷诺兹抨击了法院的决定，称其未能行使权力，并呼吁召开特别会议。
“我相信反堕胎运动是我们这个时代最重要的人权事业，”雷诺兹在一份声明中说声明。“我不仅将继续反对不人道的堕胎，而且还将继续致力于支持妇女计划生育，促进父爱和养育子女，并继续实施鼓励强大家庭的政策。”
因为共和党人在州参议院和众议院都占多数，新的立法似乎有可能通过。
2022年6月24日，爱荷华州得梅因，堕胎权利抗议者在集会上欢呼。爱荷华州的立法机构将于2023年7月11日召开特别会议，专门讨论堕胎限制，共和党议员将努力推动在怀孕约六周后通过一项新的堕胎禁令。
查理·奈伯戈尔/美联社，档案
这账单一旦可以检测到心脏活动，就会限制堕胎，这通常发生在怀孕六周左右，许多妇女还不知道自己怀孕了。在爱荷华州，怀孕20周内堕胎是合法的。
医疗紧急情况以及强奸和乱伦有例外，只要分别在45天和145天内向执法部门或卫生机构报告。
ABC新闻联系了雷诺兹州长的办公室，请求置评。
如果禁令获得通过，爱荷华州将加入其他几个通过所谓“心跳法案”的州的行列，包括阿拉巴马州、佐治亚州、肯塔基州、路易斯安那州、密苏里州、北达科他州和德克萨斯州。
俄亥俄州和南卡罗来纳州也通过了为期六周的堕胎禁令;两者目前都面临法律挑战。
爱荷华州计划生育倡导者协会发微博周一，呼吁示威者抗议爱荷华州议会大厦的特别会议。
该组织写道:“现在是时候大声疾呼，在国会大厦大张旗鼓地反击对堕胎权的攻击了。”“我们将一起发出我们的声音，并让当选官员对他们限制堕胎的任何投票负责。”
此前的堕胎禁令于2018年由雷诺兹签署成为法律，也禁止六周后堕胎。然而，该法律在2019年1月被一家地区法院永久否决，该法院裁定该法律违反了爱荷华州宪法，禁止怀孕这么早堕胎不符合州利益。
自从最高法院去年夏天推翻了罗伊诉韦德案至少有15个州停止了几乎所有的堕胎服务根据美国广播公司的新闻统计。
Iowa lawmakers hold special session to pass 6-week abortion ban
Iowa lawmakers kicked off a special session Tuesday morning with the "sole purpose" ofpassing legislation that would restrict abortion.
It comes less than a month after the state's Supreme Court wasdeadlockedon whether a lower court's injunction of a six-week abortion ban should be dissolved, leaving the procedure legal in Iowa.
In response, Gov. Kim Reynolds blasted the court's decision -- saying it had failed to exercise its authority -- and called for the special session.
"I believe the pro-life movement is the most important human rights cause of our time," Reynolds said in astatement. "Not only will I continue to fight against the inhumanity of abortion, but I will also remain committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families."
Because Republicans hold a majority in both the state Senate and the House of Representatives, the new legislation seems likely to pass.
Thebillwould limit abortion once cardiac activity can be detected, which typically occurs around six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they're pregnant. Abortion in Iowa is currently legal up to 20 weeks.
There are exceptions for medical emergencies and for rape and incest, as long as they are reported to law enforcement or to a health agency within 45 days and 145 days, respectively.
ABC News reached out to Gov. Reynolds' office for a request for comment.
If the ban is passed, Iowa will join several other states that have passed so-called "heartbeat bills," including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota and Texas.
Ohio and South Carolina have also passed six-week abortion bans; both are currently facing legal challenges.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of IowatweetedMonday, calling for demonstrators to protest the special session at the Iowa State Capitol.
"Now is the time to get loud and show up in force at the Capitol to fight back against attacks on abortion access," the group wrote. "Together, we will make our voices heard and hold elected officials accountable for any vote they take to restrict abortion."
The previous abortion ban, signed into law by Reynolds in 2018, also prevented abortion after six weeks. However, the law was permanently struck down by a district court in January 2019, which ruled that the law violated the Iowa constitution and that there was no state interest in banning abortions so early in pregnancy.
Since theSupreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, at least 15 states haveceased nearly all abortion services, according to an ABC News tally.
