¶ Overview
- Flood celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and touted that he helped pave the way for the decision. Flood supported a national abortion ban and pushed a trigger law in Nebraska that sought to criminalize doctors for providing abortions that could have also threatened access to IVF and certain contraceptives. Earlier in his career in the state legislature, Flood pushed a 20-week abortion ban that was also the first time a state sought to outlaw the procedure without an exception for the health of the woman. Flood has also sought to restrict the use of medication abortion and voted against protecting the right of Nebraskans to access contraceptives.
¶ Flood Pushed Extreme Anti-Choice Policies That Could Put Nebraska Women At-Risk
¶ Flood celebrated the overturning of roe v. wade and claimed he helped pave the way for the decision
Flood Claimed That He Helped “Pave The Way” For The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade. According to a press release from Rep. Mike Flood, "Today, the Supreme Court has returned abortion-related policy decisions back to the states and the people, where they belong. I am proudly pro-life, and am proud to have sponsored and passed the nation's first Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which banned abortions at 20 weeks, when babies can feel pain. We helped pave the way for this landmark decision. Nebraskans agree: we want to protect innocent life and support women in crisis. My opponent supports taxpayer-subsidized abortion and opposes any restriction of abortion—a radical position that is completely out of touch with the voters of Nebraska's 1st Congressional District." [Press Release – Rep. Mike Flood, 6/24/22]
- HEADLINE: "Nebraska’s Abortion Law Is Pushing Women With Pregnancy Complications To Kansas For Treatment" [Nebraska Public Media, 7/1/24]
- Nebraska Physicians Said The State’s 12-Week Abortion Ban Had Changed The Way They Cared For Patients. According to the Associated Press, "The Flatwater Free Press spoke with 11 doctors specializing in pregnancy and childbirth-related fields to learn if the state’s 12-week ban has affected their work since it became law a year ago. Nearly all said it has changed how they care for patients. Some physicians reported an uptick in patients seeking contraception and sterilization. Others said they’ve had to send patients out of state for abortion care after complications jeopardized an otherwise wanted pregnancy. And almost all of the doctors who care for pregnant patients said the law has created a legal gray area that looms over their work in rare, difficult situations." [Associated Press, 6/21/24]
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist On Nebraska’s Abortion Ban: “Instead, We’re Sitting Here Scouring A Law And Deciding What Is The Right Thing To Do With A Committee And Lawyers. And That Is Not A Place That Medicine Should Be.” According to the Associated Press, "These are rare situations, doctors agreed. But it should always be about the standard of care and what’s best for the patient, said Emily Patel, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Omaha who testified against restrictions. ‘Instead, we’re sitting here scouring a law and deciding what is the right thing to do with a committee and lawyers. And that is not a place that medicine should be.’" [Associated Press, 6/21/24]
2022: Flood Opposed A Bill That Sought To Restore A Woman’s Right To Choose In The Wake Of The Overturning Of Roe V. Wade. According to Lincoln Journal Star, “Rep. Mike Flood of Norfolk voted Friday against House passage of legislation that seeks to restore abortion rights in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that wiped out Roe v. Wade guarantees of a woman's right to have an abortion. The bill was approved by the Democratic majority in the House on a 219-210 vote and is virtually certain to be blocked in the Senate. Flood, the newly elected 1st District Republican congressman, described the proposal as ‘abortion-on-demand extremism.’ ‘This radical legislation would allow the abortion of unborn children for any reason (including on the basis of sex, race or disability) up until the moment of birth and eliminate state regulation of the abortion industry,’ the 1st District congressman said.” [Lincoln Journal Star, 7/18/22]
¶ flood supported a federal abortion ban
¶ Flood Supported A Federal Abortion Ban
Flood Reportedly Supported A Federal Abortion Ban. According to Nebraska Examiner, “U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., author of Nebraska's 20-week ban, said the law recognizes late-term abortion as 'especially cruel and inhumane.' Flood said he has 'always supported commonsense restrictions on abortion.' He also has said he would support an outright ban on abortion in Nebraska and federally.” [Nebraska Examiner, 8/10/22]
¶ Flood Believed Life Began At Conception And Sought To Ban Abortion
Mike Flood: “In Congress, I'll Work To Ban Abortions And Expand Prohibitions On Taxpayer Subsidies For Abortion. Our Tax Dollars Should Never Be Used To Subsidize Abortions. The Federal Government Must Respect The Freedom Of Conscience And The Dignity Of Human Life From Conception Until Natural Death.” According to Mike Flood’s campaign website, “Life is a precious gift from God that begins at conception. I've been a pro-life champion in the Legislature, and I'll take the same fight to Washington. In Congress, I'll work to ban abortions and expand prohibitions on taxpayer subsidies for abortion. Our tax dollars should never be used to subsidize abortions. The federal government must respect the freedom of conscience and the dignity of human life from conception until natural death.”
[Mikefloodfornebraska.com, Issues, Viewed 1/13/26]
¶ Flood Tried To Criminalize Doctors For Providing Abortions In Nebraska And Introduced A Bill That Could Threaten IVF And Certain Contraceptives
2022: Flood Pushed A Trigger Law, Legislative Bill 933, That Sought To Ban Abortion In Nebraska If Roe V. Wade Was Overturned. According to the Nebraska Examiner, "After an eight-hour debate Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature was unable to overcome a filibuster against a bill that would ban abortions in Nebraska if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The vote to invoke cloture to allow Legislative Bill 933 to advance from first-round debate failed by two votes, 31-15, likely killing the bill’s chances in 2022. Overcoming a filibuster requires 33 votes. The bill was introduced by State Sens. Joni Albrecht and Mike Flood and had 23 cosponsors. […] Thirteen other states, including neighboring Missouri and South Dakota, have enacted so-called ‘trigger’ laws that would make abortion illegal upon a Supreme Court ruling." [Nebraska Examiner, 4/6/22]
- If Triggered, Flood’s LB 933, Sought To Criminalize Doctors For Providing Abortions In All Cases Except To Save The Life Of The Mother. According to Omaha World Herald, "All abortions would be banned in Nebraska if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade under a bill introduced Monday in the Legislature. Legislative Bill 933, introduced by State Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston and Mike Flood of Norfolk, is a ‘trigger bill.’ Like similar laws passed in a dozen other states, it would take effect only if a ruling by the nation's high court, adoption of a U.S. constitutional amendment or passage of a federal law gives states full power to regulate abortions. States' authority is currently limited by past court rulings that declared abortion to be a constitutional right. If triggered, LB 933 would make it a felony for anyone to provide any medication or undertake any procedure with the intent of ending the life of an unborn child, defined as an ‘individual living member of the species homo sapiens ... from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth.’ The woman undergoing an abortion would not be considered in violation of the law. The bill would not provide exemptions but would allow licensed physicians charged under the law to use as a defense that the abortion was necessary to prevent the woman's death or serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ." [Omaha World-Herald, 1/10/22]
- Opponents Said Flood’s LB 933 Redefined Life As Beginning At “Fertilization,” Which Would Make It A Crime To Dispose Of Fertilized Embryos And The Ban The Use Of IUDs. According to the Nebraska Examiner, "Hunt said the LB 933 redefines life as beginning at ‘fertilization.’ If that’s the case, she said, it would make it a felony to dispose of fertilized embryos and would ban the use of an IUD, a contraceptive device placed in a woman’s uterus that blocks pregnancy. Opponents of LB 933 also disputed that Nebraska was a pro-life state, pointing out that a poll of 500 registered voters, released Wednesday by the ACLU of Nebraska, indicated that 55% opposed such a ban, with only 40% supporting it." [Nebraska Examiner, 4/6/22]
¶ Flood Led The Effort to ban abortion in nebraska after 20 weeks and it did not include an exception for the health of the woman
Flood Led The Effort That Set Nebraska’s State Abortion Ban At 20 Weeks. According to Nebraska Examiner, “Flood was known in the Legislature for leading the effort that set the state's abortion ban at 20 weeks, tying it to when he and medical experts on his behalf argued that a fetus could feel pain. He pushed for additional restrictions, a so-called trigger ban, before Roe v. Wade was overturned.” [Nebraska Examiner, 8/26/24]
2011: Flood Sponsored A Bill That Sought To Ban Abortion After 20 Weeks In Nebraska With No Exceptions For Rape, Incest, Or The Health Of The Mother. According to the Nebraska Examiner, "Flood pointed out that only four doctors performed abortions in Nebraska during 2021, with two doctors performing four procedures, and two others performing 2,374. The senator said Nebraska is a ‘pro-life state.’ He said that LB 933 would just be the next step following a 2011 bill that he sponsored that banned abortions past the 20th week of pregnancy, unless a woman’s life was in danger." [Nebraska Examiner, 4/6/22]
¶ Flood’s 20-Week Abortion Ban Was The First Time Nebraska Sought To Outlaw Abortion Without An Exception For The Health Of The Woman
2010: Flood Introduced “Into Law The Concept Of ‘Fetal Pain,’ It Marked The First Time That A State Has Outlawed The Procedure So Early In A Pregnancy Without An Exception For The Health Of The Woman.” According to the Denver Post, "Mike Flood, the 35-year-old speaker of Nebraska’s Legislature, had a problem: He wanted to stop the state’s well-known abortion provider from offering late-term abortions. A long line of U.S. Supreme Court precedents seemed to stand in his way. But Flood believes that a 2007 decision offers hope for him and other state legislators looking for ways to restrict abortion. Using that decision as a road map, last spring Flood wrote and won passage of legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Introducing into law the concept of ‘fetal pain,’ it marked the first time a state has outlawed the procedure so early in a pregnancy without an exception for the health of the woman." [Denver Post, 12/29/10]
¶ flood sought to restrict medication abortion
¶ Flood Was An Original Co-Sponsor Of A Bill That Sought To Prevent The FDA From Approving New Abortion Medications
Flood Was An Original Co-Sponsor Of The “SAVE Moms And Babies Act Of 2025” [House of Representatives, H.R.685, SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2025, Co-Sponsored Date, 1/23/25]
- The “SAVE Moms And Babies Act Of 2025” Would Prohibit The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) From Approving Any New Abortion Medications. According to H.R. 685, the “SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2025,” This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved.” [House of Representatives, H.R.685, SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2025, Co-Sponsored Date, 1/23/25]
- The “SAVE Moms And Babies Act Of 2025” Sought To Prohibit Providers From Prescribing Abortion Medication By Mail Or Through Telemedicine. According to a press release from Rep. Todd Young, “The SAVE Moms and Babies Act would reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for abortion drugs, preventing providers from distributing these drugs by mail or through telemedicine. This bill would also improve reporting requirements for complications from these drugs.” [Press Release – Congressman Todd Young, 2/1/23]
¶ Flood Signed An Amicus Brief That Sought To Limit Mifepristone Access
2024: Flood Signed A Brief That Called On The Supreme Court To Limit Mifepristone Access. According to Nebraska Examiner, “Anti-abortion groups, attorneys general from 25 states and more than 140 members of Congress have signed on to dozens of briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court during the past two weeks, encouraging the justices to revert use and prescribing of the medication abortion pill mifepristone to what was in place prior to 2016. […] A total of 145 members of Congress from 36 states, who opposed access to mifepristone remaining as it is today, submitted their own 39-page brief [5]in the case, calling on the Supreme Court to limit access. Signing onto the brief from Nebraska were Sen. Deb Fischer and Reps. Adrian Smith, Mike Flood and Don Bacon.” [Nebraska Examiner, 3/4/24]
¶ flood voted against a bill that sought to guarantee the right to access contraception
Flood Voted Against Legislation That Would “Guarantee People The Right To Use Contraception Without Government Interference.” According to Nebraska Examiner, “The U.S. House voted mostly along party lines Thursday to send the Senate legislation that would guarantee people the right to use contraception without government interference. The legislation from North Carolina Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning, approved 228-195, is part of the Democrats’ response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. Eight Republicans, including Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Maria Salazar of Florida and Fred Upton of Michigan voted to approve the bill. Republicans Bob Gibbs of Ohio and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania voted present. Republican U.S. Reps. Don Bacon, Mike Flood and Adrian Smith of Nebraska all voted against the measure.” [Nebraska Examiner, 6/21/22]