Iowa’s six-week abortion ban went into effect on Monday.
The new law prohibits the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and risk to the mother's life.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds called the ban a “victory for life.”
“There is nothing more sacred and no cause more worthy than protecting innocent unborn lives,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Meanwhile, abortion rights groups like Planned Parenthood vowed to continue their fight to restore the right to choose.
Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris spoke out against the ban Monday when the law took effect.
“This ban is going to take effect before many women even know they’re pregnant,” Harris said in a video posted to social media. “And what this means is that 1 in 3 women of reproductive age in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban.”
“When I’m president of the United States, I will sign into law the protections for reproductive freedom,” Harris said.
Many such laws have taken shape in Republican-led states since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
Iowa is now the 22nd state with an abortion ban in place, and the 18th state to restrict abortions at six weeks or earlier.
RELATED STORY | Abortion measures could be on Arizona and Nebraska ballots after organizers submit signatures
