Kristi Noem is continuing to serve moms and protect unborn life in her role as South Dakota governor.
Noem announced she would proclaim 2024 as Freedom For Life Year in South Dakota, explaining in her Jan. 9 State of the State Address that life is precious beginning at conception and noting the crucial first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
“In order to live a healthy life, we must first have the freedom to get off to the right start,” Noem said. “That freedom extends to every single South Dakotan – before they are born; after they are born; until the day they die.”
“Later this week, I will proclaim that 2024 will be ‘Freedom for Life Year’ in South Dakota,” Noem said. “Being pro-life means valuing the child’s life before their birth and throughout their life; it also means valuing and protecting that mother’s life.”
Noem underscored the South Dakota Bright Start program in her speech, which her administration expanded to more communities recently. The program assists moms and babies from pregnancy until the child’s second birthday, according to a press statement from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Noem also noted the Life.SD.gov website, which her office introduced on the day of the Supreme Court Dobbs ruling. The site’s aims to provide resources for pregnant women, new parents, and adoption.
“In order to live a healthy life, we must first have the freedom to get off to the right start,” Noem said in her State of the State Address.
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
“Gov. Kristi Noem continues to be a model of how to lead compassionately on the issue of life,” SBA Pro-Life America State Public Affairs Director Kelsey Pritchard said. “Understanding that being pro-life means advocating for both mothers and babies, she rolled out a website to connect more pregnant women with resources the day the Dobbs decision came down. She has also expanded Bright Start to serve more moms and signed a law protecting women from abortion coercion.”
The vice president of Ministry Services for Heartbeat International praised the governor’s diligence. Heartbeat is the largest network of pregnancy help in the U.S. and globally.
“Gov. Noem’s commitment to protecting both babies and serving mothers is commendable,” Tracie Shellhouse said.
“The proclamation designating 2024 as Freedom for Life Year in South Dakota underscores the importance of valuing life from conception throughout all stages of maturation by empowering families to make healthy decisions that lead to successful future,” Shellhouse said.
Pritchard highlighted the importance of the resources and Bright Start program as well as a law enacted by Noem to protect women from abortion coercion.
South Dakota Codified Law 34-23A reads in part: “The Legislature finds that pregnant women contemplating the termination of their right to their relationship with their unborn children, including women contemplating such termination by an abortion procedure, are faced with making a profound decision most often under stress and pressures from circumstances and from other persons, and that there exists a need for special protection of the rights of such pregnant women and that the State of South Dakota has a compelling interest in providing such protection.”
“Gov. Noem’s holistic approach to being pro-life extends beyond advocating for unborn children; it encompasses valuing and protecting the lives of mothers as well as through programs and initiatives that provide essential resources for pregnant women, new parents, and those considering adoption,” remarked Shellhouse.
Tweet This: Gov. Noem’s holistic approach to being pro-life extends beyond advocating for unborn children; it encompasses valuing the lives of mothers
Also recently the state is moving forward on a bill to clarify medical treatments for women who have health issues so that the state’s pro-life laws cannot be misconstrued.
“Gov. Noem’s compassionate and proactive leadership demonstrates that being pro-life involves not only rhetoric but tangible efforts to support and safeguard the well-being of both mothers and babies,” Shellhouse said.
