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House Human Services Committee
March 13, 2013

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Janne Myrdal, and I am the State Director for Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota. CWA is the nation’s largest women’s public policy organization. We are here today on behalf of our North Dakota members, in support of SB2303.

The advancement of science and technology now give us amazing and convincing clarity as to when life begins. It is no longer a valid debate over when life starts, but rather the debate, as it should have always been, over whether that life deserves full protection under our laws. The courts have left the State with a legitimate interest from the outset of pregnancy to protect the life, – or the potential life, of the baby. At what stage do we do this? The answer should be from conception if we want to stand with truth. Compelling testimony by experts have been heard here today; evidence of life at conception, arguments based on precedence by earlier court decisions as well as the Constitution itself. What is set before us today as a State in SB2303 is simple; “Is the human being an individual member of the species homo sapiens at every stage of development?” And does therefore this unborn child deserve the full protection under North Dakota laws regardless of gestational age? CWA believes it does. We have spent 40 years and nearly 57 million lost lives. We think it is incumbent on the lawmakers of this state to secure the rights of all human beings under the law. Since life indisputably starts at conception, no argument can withstand that argues these rights be taken away from the unborn child. To deny such rights is both morally and scientifically indefensible.

It is time we stop insulting our intelligence, stop hurting women and stop sacrificing our children on the altar of convenience. We are here today because the unborn child cannot speak for her/himself. What we are asking is that you vote a ‘do pass’ on SB2303 and let North Dakota laws speak for them.