House Republicans are bringing two anti-abortion bills to the floor this week, coinciding with the 51st annual March for Life on Friday.
“Make no mistake, conservatives are here for unborn children and their mothers, and we want to ensure an expectant mother is empowered to raise her family,” said Rep. Michell Fischbach (R-MN), author of the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, HR 6918.
HR 6918, to be voted on Friday, seeks to prevent the Department of Health and Human Services from discriminating against pregnancy resource centers in receiving federal funds under Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF.
Pregnancy resource centers, also called crisis pregnancy centers, typically provide parental education and life skill training to expectant parents as well as material support, such as diapers, formula, and clothing.
Pregnancy resource centers have been derided by abortion rights advocates as purveyors of medical misinformation because they generally do not provide abortion services or referrals.
In October, the Biden administration proposed a rule to require states to justify their use of their TANF block grant funds as a means to decrease waste in the program. This rule was announced following a Ways and Means committee hearing on reining in TANF spending in July.
TANF was created on a bipartisan basis and signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton as part of his welfare reform efforts, with the goal of assisting families in need and reducing “the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.”
HHS argues the connection of pregnancy resource centers to the third goal of TANF is “tenuous or non-existent” because they “only or primarily provide pregnancy counseling to women only after they become pregnant.”
Conservatives, however, say that the rule not only unduly targets anti-abortion advocates but also will harm the millions of women and families who rely on support from pregnancy centers.
“This bill should be a no-brainer,” Fischbach said. “Pregnancy centers not only provide tangible material supports; they also offer wrap-around services that promote strong families and marriage.
Fischbach said that she believes reforms to state TANF spending are necessary, but restricting pregnancy center funding is “putting a political agenda ahead of thoughtful policy proposals.”
House Republicans have also advanced the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, HR 6914, which is targeted toward pregnant and parenting college and university students.
HR 6914, which is on the docket for Thursday, requires schools to inform women of their rights under Title IX related to pregnancy, including permission to miss classes for prenatal doctor appointments and the continuation of scholarships for women who step away to give birth and recover postpartum.
“Simply, this bill operates on the assumption that pregnant women, especially those facing the daunting uncertainty of an unexpected college pregnancy, should know all options available to them to help carry the baby to term,” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chairwoman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, told the Washington Examiner.
The text of the bill notes that 30% of abortions are performed on college-aged women between 20 and 24 years old.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“The goal with any decision during this deeply personal and sensitive time should be to maximize the pregnant mothers’ educational journey while minimizing harm done to her child’s potential future,” said Foxx.
HHS has not responded to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
