Rounds Introduces “Life at Conception Act” to Extend Constitutional Protections
- Steve Jurrens
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has introduced the Life at Conception Act, a piece of legislation aimed at legally recognizing a right to life by extending 14th Amendment protections to unborn children.
The bill seeks to clarify in federal statute that the constitutional right to life is vested in each human being at all stages of life, specifically defined as the moment of conception or any other moment an individual comes into being.
“Life at all stages is a gift from God and should be treated with dignity,” Rounds said. “The Life at Conception Act would protect the right to life in the Constitution for human beings at all stages, including in the womb.”
Rounds is leading the effort in the Senate with a group of 11 Republican cosponsors, including Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). A companion bill is being led in the House of Representatives by Representative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.).
Supporters of the legislation argue that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection should apply to the most vulnerable. Senator Blackburn noted the timing of the introduction coincides with the March for Life in Washington, D.C., stating it is a “solemn duty” to enshrine the rights of unborn children into law.
The act has gained endorsements from several advocacy groups, including the National Pro-Life Alliance, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and Students for Life Action. Proponents claim the measure addresses legal loopholes and aligns with the biological view that a unique human life begins at fertilization.
“The Life at Conception Act reaffirms the original intention of the writers of the 14th Amendment by declaring that the word ‘person’ includes all persons from the moment of conception,” said Martin Fox, President of the National Pro-Life Alliance.
If passed, the legislation would represent a significant shift in federal law by defining personhood at the moment of conception, potentially impacting abortion access nationwide by providing a statutory basis for fetal rights under the Constitution.
