State Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle accepted the endorsement of the pro-life group Idaho Chooses Life (ICL), which threw its support behind Labrador because of his pro-life stance, as well as his legislative experience.

Here is the statement from Labrador's campaign, which was the first official campaign statement in more than a month:

"I have always believed that government's greatest responsibility is defending the sanctity of human life," Labrador said.  "It is humbling to have my record and values acknowledged by one of Idaho's leading pro-Life groups."

Pro-life issues will be a major point of contention in the congressional election this year:

"My Democrat opponent, Walt Minnick, has built a radical record in supporting tax-funding of abortion," Labrador observed.  "Before voting against ObamaCare, he voted to ensure that taxpayers were on the hook to pay for abortion-on-demand.  It is a strange priority for him to have at a time when we face an unprecedented budget crisis in Washington."

"The endorsement from ICL is a big boost to our campaign and I'm excited about the next four weeks of this election effort," Labrador concluded.

Following ICL's endorsement of Labrador, Ryan O'Barto, campaign manager for Vaughn Ward, the Marine reservist also seeking the GOP nomination, said Ward also is an anti-abortion candidate. “Vaughn believes that life begins at conception and that we must protect the rights of the unborn,” O’Barto said. “In Congress, Vaughn will remain strongly committed to the fight against abortion.”  Harley Brown, the other candidate still in the race for the nomination, has not commented on the endorsement.