Biden team, Eli Lilly condemn new Indiana abortion ban

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The administration of President Joe Biden and one of Indiana's largest employers have condemned the state's new ban on abortions, with the White House calling it another extreme attempt by Republicans to trample women's rights.

Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve such legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1973 landmark case that had protected the right to abortion nationwide.

“The Indiana Legislature took a devastating step as a result of the Supreme Court’s extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate women’s constitutionally protected right to abortion," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Saturday. "And, it’s another radical step by Republican legislators to take away women’s reproductive rights and freedom, and put personal health care decisions in the hands of politicians rather than women and their doctors.”

The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions will be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest won't be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed.

Under the bill, abortions can only be performed in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics will lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports will lose their medical license.

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

“We are concerned that this law will hinder Lilly’s — and Indiana’s — ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world," the company said in a statement Saturday. "While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees.”

"Given this new law, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state,” it said.

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

Lilly was not among the more than 250 businesses that opposed abortion restrictions in a letter released July 21 by the American Civil Liberties Union, The Indianapolis Star reported.

IU Health, Indiana's largest health care system, said it was studying the new law.

“IU Health’s priority remains ensuring our physicians and patients have clarity when making decisions about pregnancy within the limits of the law. We will take the next few weeks to fully understand the terms of the new law and how to incorporate the changes into our medical practice to protect our providers and care for the people seeking reproductive healthcare,” it said in a statement.

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

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

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Find AP's full coverage of the overturning of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion

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Abortion-rights protesters fill Indiana Statehouse corridors and cheer outside legislative chambers, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, as lawmakers vote to concur on a near-total abortion ban, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Arleigh Rodgers)

Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor, at podium just right of center, of Indianapolis, speaks to Indiana senators ahead of voting, in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, to concur on a near-total abortion ban. (AP Photo/Arleigh Rodgers)

Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Abortion-rights activists stand outside the Indiana House chambers, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, where legislators spoke on a near-total abortion ban. (AP Photo/Arleigh Rodgers)

Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Indiana Republican House Speaker Todd Huston, left, and Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara, right, speak with reporters after the Indiana House approved a near-total abortion ban at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. The legislation returns to the Senate to confer on the House changes. (AP Photo/Arleigh Rodgers)

Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Demonstrators stand outside the House chamber before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during a special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Democratic Rep. Cherrish Pryor speaks before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara, left, listens to questions from Republican Rep. Matt Hostettler, right, before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during a special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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People watch from the gallery before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during a special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Republican Rep. John Jacob speaks before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Rep. Renee Pack speaks before a vote is held on Senate Bill 1 during a special session Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The bill bans abortions at zero weeks except in the cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant person. (Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Credit: Jenna Watson

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Indiana Republican Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray, left, and Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, speak with reporters, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, in Indianapolis, after the state becomes the first in the nation to pass an abortion bill in its Legislature after the U. S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. (AP Photo/Arleigh Rodgers)

Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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Credit: Arleigh Rodgers

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