[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1509 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1509
Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 11, 2024, as
``National Pregnancy Center Week'' to recognize the vital role that
community-supported pregnancy centers play in saving lives and serving
women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 25, 2024
Mr. Good of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Gosar,
Mr. Posey, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Grothman, Mr.
Rose, Mr. Fulcher, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Ogles, Mr.
Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Lamborn, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mr. Norman, Mr.
Wilson of South Carolina, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr.
Murphy, Mr. Self, Mr. Allen, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Issa, Mrs.
Fischbach, and Mr. Rosendale) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 11, 2024, as
``National Pregnancy Center Week'' to recognize the vital role that
community-supported pregnancy centers play in saving lives and serving
women and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions.
Whereas, for more than 100 years, young women facing unplanned pregnancies have
found support from charitable organizations ranging from Catholic
Charities and Jewish maternity homes to the Salvation Army;
Whereas many charitable organizations banded together, on November 13, 1971, to
form the first United States association of nonprofit organizations,
known today as Heartbeat International, dedicated to rescuing as many
lives as possible from abortion;
Whereas, as of 2024, there were approximately 3,000 pregnancy centers (also
known as ``pregnancy care and resource centers'') in the United States;
Whereas women in every part of the United States turn to pregnancy centers for
help, hope, and healing;
Whereas pregnancy centers are local, nonprofit organizations that provide vital
and compassionate support to women and men faced with difficult
pregnancy decisions;
Whereas pregnancy centers reach almost 2,000,000 people each year through a
combination of client services, including--
(1) pregnancy tests;
(2) ultrasound and medical services;
(3) options counseling and education; and
(4) parenting and childbirth classes;
Whereas the estimated value of services provided in 2022 to women and men of all
ages and backgrounds was over $350,000,000;
Whereas some pregnancy centers offer specific medical services, including--
(1) consultation with a licensed medical professional;
(2) a limited ultrasound for pregnancy confirmation; and
(3) testing for sexually transmitted infections and diseases;
Whereas the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates--
(1) provides life-affirming pregnancy centers with legal counsel,
education, and training;
(2) has assisted hundreds of pregnancy centers in becoming medical
clinics; and
(3) has represented nearly 1,300 pregnancy centers that currently
operate as medical clinics;
Whereas more than 53,000 people in the United States volunteer at community-
supported pregnancy centers each year, including more than 5,000
licensed medical professionals;
Whereas nearly 2,250 medical pregnancy centers provide a limited ultrasound at
little or no cost to women;
Whereas, in 2019, more than 486,000 ultrasounds were performed at medical
pregnancy centers;
Whereas pregnancy centers understand that pregnancy can be emotional for mothers
and fathers, and the compassionate staff and trained volunteers of
pregnancy centers--
(1) provide each patient with educational materials; and
(2) offer each patient emotional support and care to help each patient
through difficult situations;
Whereas close to 88 percent of pregnancy centers in the United States offer
specialized parenting education--
(1) through direct services on premises; or
(2) in nearby churches, schools, or other locations;
Whereas nearly every pregnancy care and resource center provides clients with
material support for pregnancy and infant care, which may include--
(1) maternity clothing;
(2) baby clothes and furniture;
(3) housing assistance; or
(4) nutritional counseling and resources;
Whereas pregnancy centers--
(1) do not discriminate based on age, race, nationality, creed,
religious affiliation, disability, or arbitrary circumstances; and
(2) take special care to provide help to underserved minority
populations;
Whereas pregnancy centers have committed to engaging fathers so that they can
acquire the skills necessary to become involved and responsible fathers;
Whereas Care Net-affiliated pregnancy centers have saved more than 886,000
babies since 2008;
Whereas Heartbeat International reports that the Abortion Pill Rescue Network
has saved more than 5,000 lives from in-process chemical abortions since
2012;
Whereas, between 2010 and 2024, 8 of 10 women considering abortion when they
entered a Care Net-affiliated pregnancy care and resource center ended
up choosing life;
Whereas, in 2022 alone, pregnancy centers--
(1) provided 546,000 free ultrasound scans;
(2) provided parenting support and education to nearly 410,000
individuals;
(3) provided more than 9,450,000 of free material resources to
individuals in need; and
(4) administered 703,835 pregnancy tests;
Whereas the 24-hour Option Line of Heartbeat International--
(1) helps carry out a mission of reaching and rescuing as many lives as
possible around the world through an effective network of life-affirming
pregnancy centers; and
(2) answers questions by phone, text, email, or chat before connecting
an individual with the individual's local pregnancy center, where the
individual will receive 1-on-1, compassionate, caring support;
Whereas Heartbeat International has made contact with over 7,000,000 women and
men seeking pregnancy help through the Option Line;
Whereas the Care Net Pregnancy Decision Line is the only national hotline that
provides immediate pregnancy decision coaching by highly trained
coaches;
Whereas Heartbeat International reports the existence of approximately 450
maternity homes in the United States;
Whereas Care Net, Heartbeat International, the National Institute of Family and
Life Advocates, and other groups issued a statement entitled ``Our
Commitment of Care and Competence'', which--
(1) addresses issues including--
G (A) scientific and medical accuracy;
G (B) truth in advertising;
G (C) compassion;
G (D) nondiscrimination;
G (E) patient confidentiality;
G (F) staff training; and
G (G) a consistent life ethic; and
(2) expands the determination of the pregnancy help movement to comply
with applicable legal requirements regarding--
G (A) employment;
G (B) fundraising;
G (C) financial management;
G (D) taxation;
G (E) medical licensure; and
G (F) operation standards;
Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy centers in the United
States is derived from governmental sources, which ensures that
pregnancy centers--
(1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and
(2) engage local communities to provide sustainable support; and
Whereas, after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), pregnancy
centers have wrongfully been the subject of vandalism and violence: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses support for the recognition of ``National
Pregnancy Center Week'';
(2) supports the important work of pregnancy centers across
the United States;
(3) appreciates and recognizes the thousands of volunteers
and staff of pregnancy centers in the United States who give
millions of hours of service each year to women and men who are
faced with difficult pregnancy decisions; and
(4) recognizes the importance of--
(A) protecting life; and
(B) assisting women and men in need as they bring
children into the world.
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