FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2022
Contact: Mary Owens, [email protected]
Budget Includes $1M to Attack Nonprofits That Provide Vital Services for Women & Families
Washington, D.C. – Democrats in the Massachusetts Legislature are considering legislation that would budget at least $1 million in taxpayer dollars for spreading harmful misinformation about pregnancy centers.
H.5374 states that “not less than $1,000,000 shall be expended for a public awareness campaign to educate providers and the public about so called crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers” and accuses the centers of lacking medical services.
In 2019, 2,700 pregnancy centers nationwide served almost two million people at an estimated value of nearly $270 million. Services included almost 732,000 pregnancy tests, more than 486,000 free ultrasounds, 60,200 STI/STD tests, and more. Over 10,000 licensed medical workers provided care, as staff and volunteers.
SBA Pro-Life America joined local allies in slamming the bill:
“Planned Parenthood and pro-abortion radicals have come unhinged since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and they are lashing out at the most visible parts of the pro-life movement, increasingly with physical violence. Yet, instead of addressing the vandalism perpetrated against several MA pregnancy resource centers this summer, Beacon Hill wants to use tax dollars to fund a million dollar smear campaign attacking the life-saving work of PRCs with lies and harassment,” said Massachusetts Family Institute President Andrew Beckwith.
SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser added, “At a time when pregnancy centers across the nation are experiencing scores of attacks, pro-abortion Democrats in Massachusetts want to spend $1 million in taxpayer dollars to fuel the flames. Pregnancy centers serve women and families regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status. Unlike the profit-driven abortion industry, they typically rely on private generosity and provide vital services at low cost or no cost. When leading Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Maura Healey demonize their important work, their words have consequences – hurting the poor and vulnerable who need their services the most.
“We call on Governor Baker to stand with women and children and the overwhelming majority of voters – including pro-choice voters – who favor pregnancy centers. The governor has the ability to veto this reckless bill and he must act.”
Two Massachusetts pregnancy centers were vandalized days after Warren called for a crackdown on pregnancy centers and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey accused centers, without offering any evidence, of deceiving clients and letting unqualified personnel perform medical services.
An analysis by Charlotte Lozier Institute finds 14 community-based health clinics and pregnancy centers for every Planned Parenthood facility in the United States. In Massachusetts the ratio is 25:1.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
###
