Pregnant Women Support Act
Background: The Pregnant Women Support Act was first introduced in 2006. In its Findings, the bill is described as an initiative “to gather more complete information about abortion, to reduce the abortion rate by helping women carry their pregnancies to term and bear healthy children, and by affirming the right of women to be fully informed about their other options when they seek an abortion” and “to support women facing unplanned pregnancies, new parents and their children by providing for health care needs, supportive services and helpful prenatal information and postnatal services.” The bill has 12 titles. Title I: Public Awareness and Assistance for Pregnant Women and New Parents. Title II: Increasing Women’s Knowledge about their Pregnancy. Title III: Pregnancy as a Preexisting Condition. Title IV: Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage of Pregnant Women and Unborn Children. Title V: Disclosure of Information on Abortion Services. Title VI: Support for Pregnant and Parenting College Students. Title VII: Support for Pregnant and Parenting Teens. Title VIII: Improving Services for Pregnant Women Who are Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking. Title IX: Life Support Centers for Pregnant Women, Mothers, and Children. Title X: Expansion of Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Programs. Title XI: Providing Support to New Parents. Title XII: Collecting and Reporting Abortion Data.
In pursuing its goals, the bill does not facilitate access to abortion or fund contraception programs.
House: On April 22, 2009, Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN) introduced the Pregnant Women Support Act (H.R. 2035). The bill has 39 cosponsors and was referred to four committees: Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and Labor (to three subcommittees); and Agriculture.
On April 24, 2009, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote to the U. S. House of Representatives, urging all Representatives to support and cosponsor H.R. 2035. The Cardinal cited two statements that most can endorse: That over a million abortions take place each year in this country is a tragedy, and steps should be taken to reduce abortions; and no woman should undergo an abortion because she feels she has no choice or because alternatives were unavailable or unknown to her. For the Cardinal’s full letter, see: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/women/PWSAHouse09.pdf
Senate: On May 13, 2009, Sen. Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) introduced the identical measure in the Senate (S. 1032). The bill has one cosponsor and was referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
On May 15, 2009, Cardinal Rigali wrote a letter to the U.S. Senate, urging all Senators to support and cosponsor S. 1032. For the Cardinal’s full letter, see: www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/women/PWSASenate09.pdf. | |
