Tennessee U.S. Congresswoman and co-chair of the Congressional Family Caucus Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) is advocating for greater resources available to those who are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy, as well as expectant mothers and families.
Harshbarger, along with 16 additional Republican Congressmen, has introduced the Life.Gov Act which aims to support the creation of a first-of-its-kind website that would provide information on local resources available to expectant families.
Despite the fact that there are privately maintained directories that offer information to expectant families, these are separate endeavors with constrained resources.
According to Harshbarger, the passage of this measure will make government resources and other local aid programs easily accessible to mothers and families in need at no net cost to the federal government.
Additionally, the legislation would offer grants to states so they may start and fund initiatives to coordinate online resources for expectant women. The bill expressly forbids grant financing and the inclusion of any resources on the websites of organizations that carry out or support abortion.
Resources for expectant mothers could include, but not be limited to, information and services related to adoption, alternatives to abortion, breastfeeding support, childcare, and family leave assistance, foster care information, legal support, housing support, OB-GYN and other health care services, fetal development resources, drug and alcohol recovery, mental health services, transportation support, and tax preparation.
According to Harshbarger, no mother should ever feel left behind, unsupported, or fear for the future of their child.
“The Life .Gov Act is a critical government commitment to provide expecting mothers and families with access to resources that will help ensure their child will have a healthy birth and wholesome childhood. I am honored to introduce legislation that will increase access to care for expecting mothers, our children, and promoting life as the clear choice for our future families,” Harshbarger said.
Concerned Women for American LAC, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Students for Life Action, Americans United for Life, National Right to Life Committee, March for Life Action, Abortion Survivors Network, and Heritage Action have also vocalized support for the legislation.
According to Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, women facing an unexpected pregnancy need information and they need resources to know they are not alone and have the ability to choose life.
“Life . Gov will be a one-stop-shop listing everything from the local pregnancy resource centers to food and nutrition assistance, education opportunities, and adoption and legal services. We are delighted Rep. Harshbarger has championed this legislation and will work to help gain widespread support for women,” Nance said.
Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for SBA Pro-Life America thanked Harshbarger for supporting mothers in need by working on this pro-life legislation.
“No mother should ever feel alone when she faces an unplanned pregnancy. There are thousands of pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and other organizations nationwide that stand ready to provide hope and encouragement as well as vital material, medical, and educational support to millions of families each year. We thank Representative Harshbarger and her colleagues for supporting mothers in need by working to get them access to these critical life-affirming resources,” Musgrave said.
According to Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action, this legislation will greatly reduce the number of abortions in the U.S.
“Many people who advocate for abortion claim the pro-life movement does not care about the woman in the unexpected pregnancy nor the child after they are born. This is clearly far from the truth. The Life .Gov Act would give all mothers who find themselves in unexpected pregnancies access to affirming resources, both private resources supported by the pro-life movement and governmental resources, available in their community and state. According to the Guttmacher Institute – the think tank formally affiliated with Planned Parenthood – 64 percent of women who seek abortion felt pressured or forced into an abortion. The Life .Gov Act is one way to greatly reduce the number of abortions and traumatized mothers who thought they had no other option than to end the life of their own child,” Hawkins said.
Other co-sponsors in the Life.Gov Act are Representatives Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Jeff Duncan (R-SC-03), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), Jim Banks (R-IN-03), Rich McCormick (R-GA-06), Bob Latta (R-OH-05), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05) and George Santos (R-NY-03).
The Tennessee Star reached out to Harshbarger for comment but did not receive a reply before press time.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, The Arizona Sun Times, and The Tennessee Star. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rep. Diana Harshbarger” by US House of Representatives.
