Pregnant Women Support Act
Encyclopedia
The Pregnant Women Support Act was created by the Democrats for Life of America
and introduced into the Congress by Representative Lincoln Davis
of Tennessee.
It is, according to Democrats for Life, "a comprehensive package of federal legislation and policy proposals that will reduce the number of abortions... While both Democrats and Republicans talk about reducing the number of abortions, Democrats for Life of America offers real solutions to make this goal a reality. With bold new ideas, sound research and policy arguments, [the Pregnant Women Support Act] contains proven policy suggestions to dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America."
In their 2005 book, Take It Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future, Paul Begala
and James Carville
praise Democrats for Life their work. In the book they say the Act "is built around seventeen concrete policy proposals that would reduce the number of abortions.... We believe these proposals would do more to prevent abortions than all the speeches, all the marches and all the campaign ads the pro-lifers have used over the past 30 years." They go on to call it "both good politics and, we think, good policy."
When introducing the bill Davis was joined by Republican lead cosponsor Rep. Chris Smith and Reps. Harold Ford, Jr., Charlie Melancon, and Dan Lipinski. Other original cosponsors include Reps. Marion Berry, Allen Boyd, Jerry Costello, Mike Fitzpatrick, Tim Holden, Marcy Kaptur, Mark Kennedy, Dale Kildee, Dan Lipinski, Jim Marshall, Mike McIntrye, Alan Mollohan, James Oberstar, Solomon Ortiz, and Colin Peterson. Organizations who have sent statements in support of the bill include the National Association of Evangelicals, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Americans United for Life, Democrats for Life of America
, National Council on Adoption, Life Education and Resource Network, Redeem the Vote, CARENET, Tony Campolo
, founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Joe Turnham
, Chairman, Alabama Democratic Party, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, and actor, Martin Sheen
.
In addition, it is estimated that every dollar spent on WIC results in between $1.77 and $3.13 in Medicaid
savings for newborns and their mothers.
Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America is an advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left, primarily the Democratic Party, into taking a pro-life position. Usually this involves political opposition to abortion, but the DFLA also opposes capital punishment and euthanasia...
and introduced into the Congress by Representative Lincoln Davis
Lincoln Davis
Lincoln Edward Davis is the former U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
of Tennessee.
It is, according to Democrats for Life, "a comprehensive package of federal legislation and policy proposals that will reduce the number of abortions... While both Democrats and Republicans talk about reducing the number of abortions, Democrats for Life of America offers real solutions to make this goal a reality. With bold new ideas, sound research and policy arguments, [the Pregnant Women Support Act] contains proven policy suggestions to dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America."
In their 2005 book, Take It Back: Our Party, Our Country, Our Future, Paul Begala
Paul Begala
Paul Edward Begala is an American political consultant and political commentator. He was an adviser to President Bill Clinton. Begala was a chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign, which carried 33 states and made Clinton the first Democrat to win the White House in sixteen years...
and James Carville
James Carville
Chester James Carville, Jr. is an American political consultant, commentator, educator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill...
praise Democrats for Life their work. In the book they say the Act "is built around seventeen concrete policy proposals that would reduce the number of abortions.... We believe these proposals would do more to prevent abortions than all the speeches, all the marches and all the campaign ads the pro-lifers have used over the past 30 years." They go on to call it "both good politics and, we think, good policy."
When introducing the bill Davis was joined by Republican lead cosponsor Rep. Chris Smith and Reps. Harold Ford, Jr., Charlie Melancon, and Dan Lipinski. Other original cosponsors include Reps. Marion Berry, Allen Boyd, Jerry Costello, Mike Fitzpatrick, Tim Holden, Marcy Kaptur, Mark Kennedy, Dale Kildee, Dan Lipinski, Jim Marshall, Mike McIntrye, Alan Mollohan, James Oberstar, Solomon Ortiz, and Colin Peterson. Organizations who have sent statements in support of the bill include the National Association of Evangelicals, Sojourners/Call to Renewal, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Americans United for Life, Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America is an advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left, primarily the Democratic Party, into taking a pro-life position. Usually this involves political opposition to abortion, but the DFLA also opposes capital punishment and euthanasia...
, National Council on Adoption, Life Education and Resource Network, Redeem the Vote, CARENET, Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo
Dr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo is an American pastor, author, sociologist, and public speaker known for challenging evangelical Christians by illustrating how their faith can offer solutions in a world of complexity. With his liberal political and social attitudes, he has been a major proponent for...
, founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, Joe Turnham
Joe Turnham
Joe Turnham is a United States politician who currently chairs the Alabama Democratic Party.-Family and education:...
, Chairman, Alabama Democratic Party, U.S. Senator Bob Casey, and actor, Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
.
Empower Women
- Federal Funding for Toll-Free Number/National Public Awareness Program
- Enact an advertising campaign in each state to provide a toll free number that will direct a woman to organizations that provide support services for pregnant women who want to carry their children to term and/or direct women to adoption centers. Organizations that qualify for the referral from the toll-free hotline must be non-profit, tax exempt organizations that do not provide abortion referral services.
- Conduct a National Study & Update Abortion Data
- National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of HealthThe National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
will collect "accurate" data on why women choose abortions. Within five years of enactment, the NIH will present its findings to Congress. This will be compiled on a confidential and voluntary basis.
- Federal Funding for Pregnancy Prevention Education
- Provide grants to school districts that are in need of funds to administer effective, age-appropriate pregnancy prevention education.
- Federal Funding for Abortion Counseling and Daycare on University Campuses
- Provide grants for universities and colleges to support pregnant women; provide resources and support to help women continue their education if they keep their child or make an adoption plan for their child. These grants will help universities establish an on-campus office for counseling, referral, and parenting services for pregnant women and daycare services for parents.
- Provide Accurate Information to Patients Receiving a Positive Result from an Alpha-Fetoprotein Test tests.
- Pregnant women who choose to undergo prenatal genetic testing should be provided with information on the accuracy of these tests. There can be false-positive results, indicating a problem when the child is actually healthy.
- Make Adoption Tax Credits Permanent
- Repeal the sunset on adoption tax credits and make them permanent.
- Ban Pregnancy as a “Pre-Existing ConditionPre-existing conditionA pre-existing condition is a risk with extant causes that is not readily compensated by standard, affordable insurance premiums. Pre-existing condition exclusions by the insurance industry are meant to cope with adverse selection by potential customers. Such exclusions have become a topic in the...
” in the Health Care Industry
- End the discriminatory practices against pregnant women in the health insurance industry by removing pregnancy from all “pre-existing condition” lists in health care.
- Require Adoption Referral Information
- Require pregnancy centers and women's health centers that provide pregnancy counseling and that receive federal funding to provide adoption referral information.
- Women's Right to Know
- Any women's health center or clinic that provides pregnancy counseling or abortion services must provide accurate information on abortion and the adverse side effects that may affect the woman's health. Patients do not have to accept the materials if they do not want them.
- Provide Ultrasound Equipment
- Provide grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services. This equipment will be operated by licensed professionals.
- Increase Funding for Domestic Violence Programs
- Offer additional federal funding for programs that have received grants by the Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
for providing counseling and shelter for women and children in crisis pregnancies. The leading cause of death against pregnant women is murder.
Protect our Children
- Fully Fund Federal WIC Program
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and ChildrenSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and ChildrenThe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is a Federal assistance program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture for healthcare and nutrition of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants and children...
(WIC) is funded at about $4.9 billion, which advocates say is $268 million less than what's needed to serve the current 7.86–7.90 million participants. The administration expects 8.2 million pregnant women, infants, and young children to be served by the program. Thus, this analysis assumes that an eight percent reduction translates into 670,000 fewer people being served (which is eight percent of 8.2 million).
- The administration also proposes placing an overall cap on all non-defense, non-Homeland Security discretionary spending for the next five years. By 2010, those discretionary caps could force 660,000 recipients to lose WIC in 2010. Between 2006 and 2010, the WIC cuts could total $657 million.
In addition, it is estimated that every dollar spent on WIC results in between $1.77 and $3.13 in Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
savings for newborns and their mothers.
- Parental Notification
- Prohibits transporting a minor across a state line to obtain an abortion but makes an exception if the abortion was necessary to save the life of the minor. It requires states that have parental notification to inform parents of state statutory rape laws.
- Provide Grants to States to Help in the Promotion and Implementation of Safe Haven LawsSafe haven lawSafe-haven laws are statutes in the United States that decriminalize the leaving of unharmed infants with statutorily designated private persons so that the child becomes a ward of the state...
- Forty-six states now have some type of safe haven legislation. Most of the laws designate hospitals, emergency medical services, fire stations and police stations as safe locations. One exception is New York, which stipulates that the baby may be left with a suitable person or may be left in a suitable location so long as an appropriate person is promptly notified.
- Require Counseling in Maternity Group Homes
- Adoption counseling in federally funded maternity group homes and teaching of parenting skills.
- Require SCHIP to cover pregnant women
- Mandate State Children's Health Insurance ProgramState Children's Health Insurance ProgramThe State Children's Health Insurance Program – later known more simply as the Children's Health Insurance Program – is a program administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides matching funds to states for health insurance to families with children...
(SCHIP) coverage for pregnant women. Expanded coverage to pregnant women through Medicaid and the SCHIP and to newborns through the first full year of life.