Northeast South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the Senate floor today, marking the third anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the issue of abortion to state control.

In his remarks, Thune stated, "Madam President, today marks the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the question of abortion to the people and their elected representatives."

Thune noted that since the decision, several states have implemented new protections for unborn children. He emphasized that there are "babies alive today who would not be here without Dobbs." However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges: "Other states have enacted aggressively pro-abortion laws," citing a report from the Guttmacher Institute that recorded over a million abortions in 2024.

The senator expressed his determination to continue working towards comprehensive legal protection for all Americans: "We still have a lot of work to do to reach a day when every American, born and unborn, enjoys the full protection of the law."

Thune criticized Democrats' stance on abortion rights: "I’m sure my Democrat colleagues have plans to commemorate the Dobbs anniversary – not as a day that opened the door to protections for human rights but as a day that opened the door to restrictions on Democrats’ most cherished ‘freedom.’"

He concluded with optimism about future progress: "I am confident that we can get there. And I look forward to the day when... being small and vulnerable does not mean that your human rights are any less respected."