Biden team, pharma giant Eli Lilly condemn Indiana’s new abortion ban: ‘We’ll be forced to plan to add jobs outside of our state

INDIANAPOLIS – The administration of President Joe Biden and one of Indiana’s largest employers have condemned the state’s new abortion ban, in what the White House calls another radical Republican attempt. to trample on women’s rights.

On Friday, Indiana became the first state in the nation to pass the legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a landmark 1973 case that defended abortion rights nationally. .

“The Indiana Legislature took a devastating step as a result of the Supreme Court’s radical decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and remove women’s constitutionally protected abortion rights,” said Press Secretary. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Saturday. “And, it’s another radical move by Republican lawmakers to strip women of reproductive rights and liberties, while leaving individual health care decisions in the hands of politicians. more than women and their doctors.”

The ban, effective September 15, includes a few exceptions. Abortion will be allowed in cases of rape and incest, 10 weeks before insemination; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if the fetus is diagnosed with a fatal malformation. Victims of rape and incest will not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an assault, as has been proposed.

Under the bill, abortions could only be performed in a hospital or hospital-owned outpatient center, meaning all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an abortion illegally or fails to file the required reports will lose his or her license to practice.

Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Co., which employs 10,400 people at its headquarters in Indianapolis, warned that the ban could force it to reassess its presence in Indiana.

“We are concerned that this legislation will impede Lilly’s ability to attract diverse science, engineering and business talent – and Indiana from around the world,” the company said in a statement Thursday. Seven. “While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for fertility services that are not available locally, that may not be enough for with a number of current and potential employees.”

“With this new law, we will be forced to plan to add jobs outside of our state,” it said.

Lilly has research and development centers in New York City and the California cities of San Diego and San Francisco, and this year announced it will build a $700 million genetic medicine center in New York City. Boston.

Lilly was not among more than 250 businesses protesting against abortion restrictions in a letter released by the American Civil Liberties Union July 21. Indianapolis star reported.

IU Health, Indiana’s largest health care system, said it was working on the new law.

“IU Health’s priority remains to ensure that our doctors and patients have clarity when making decisions about pregnancy within the bounds of the law. It will take us the next few weeks to fully understand the provisions of the new law and how to incorporate the changes into our health practices to protect our providers and care for those seeking care. seek reproductive health care,” it said in a statement.

The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce urged the General Assembly to proceed with caution.

“Over the past two weeks, the Indiana General Assembly has debated a substantial policy change on the issue of abortion within a compressed timeframe,” the institute said in a statement Thursday. “Such an expedited legislative process – rushing to advance state policy on complex, broad issues – is at best detrimental to the Hoosiers, and at worst reckless.”