House Republicans are set to introduce two anti-abortion bills during the week, coinciding with the 51st annual March for Life on Friday.
Representative Michell Fischbach (R-MN), the author of the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, HR 6918, emphasized conservative support for unborn children and expectant mothers. The bill, scheduled for a Friday vote, aims 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 (TANF).
Pregnancy resource centers, often known as crisis pregnancy centers, typically offer parental education, life skills training, and material support, such as diapers, formula, and clothing to expectant parents. Despite their support role, these centers have faced criticism from abortion rights advocates who accuse them of providing medical misinformation due to their general avoidance of abortion services or referrals.
In October, the Biden administration proposed a rule requiring states to justify their use of TANF block grant funds, with the aim of reducing waste in the program. TANF, established in 1996 on a bipartisan basis and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, seeks to assist families in need and decrease “the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies.”
HHS contends that the connection between pregnancy resource centers and TANF’s goal is “tenuous or non-existent,” as these centers primarily provide pregnancy counseling after women become pregnant. Conservatives argue that the rule unfairly targets anti-abortion advocates and could negatively impact the millions of women and families relying on support from pregnancy centers.
Rep. Fischbach stressed the importance of reforms to state TANF spending but criticized the restriction on pregnancy center funding, viewing it as prioritizing a political agenda over thoughtful policy proposals.
