Life Advocacy Briefing

House Moves Pregnancy Center Aid Bill

AT THE CLOSE OF THIS LIFE ADVOCACY BRIEFING, we publish the House voting records on a failed procedural motion (to send the bill back to committee) and on successful final passage through the House. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), whose opening remarks we publish here so our readers can ascertain the purposes of the legislation.

“[HR-6918] would ensure that pregnancy centers cannot be excluded or restricted from receiving funding for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, or TANF, dollars. … This bill should be a no-brainer. Pregnancy centers do not just serve pregnant women; they offer a wide array of services and support for mothers, fathers and families. Pregnancy centers provide treatment, counseling, ultrasounds, parenting and prenatal education, diapers, baby clothes, referrals for housing and transportation, and so much more. They provide support,” she said, “to new moms and their babies.

“TANF has four purposes, and there should be no doubt that state use of funds for pregnancy resource centers is allowable. The first two purposes of TANF speak to assisting needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes and reducing dependence on government assistance. Pregnancy centers not only provide tangible material supports,” notes Rep. Fischbach. “They also offer wrap-around services that promote strong families and marriage.”

The pro-life Congresswoman went on to warn that the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) “proposed a rule [last fall] that could restrict states from using TANF funding for pregnancy centers.” She identified this as an example of the pro-abortion bent of the Biden Regime and its HHS bureaucracy.

“Women who face an unexpected pregnancy,” she said, “should be able to safely go into a facility that is not going to push abortion on them and instead provide them with the education and resources they need to understand their options and the supports available to them. Such facilities should not be at risk of losing TANF funding. … Singling out pregnancy centers is putting a political agenda ahead of thoughtful policy proposals that preserve state flexibility.”

Her bill did pass the House and is now assigned to the Senate’s Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.

Injustice

SIX PRO-LIFE RESCUERS WERE CONVICTED by a federal court jury last Tuesday, reports Ashley Sadler for LifeSiteNews, “for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act during a 2021 peaceful protest at an abortion facility just outside Nashville, Tennessee. …

“The verdict comes,” notes Ms. Sadler, “in spite of the fact that, just a year and a-half later, the same facility was forced to stop committing abortions to comply with Tennessee’s pro-life legislation after the June 2022 overthrow of Roe v. Wade. … Each of the protesters involved in the Tennessee rescue now faces as many as 10-1/2 years behind bars,” writes Ms. Sadler, “and up to $260,000 in fines.”

The report goes on to quote from a statement by Thomas More Society senior counsel Steve Crampton, who represents one of the defendants, Paul Vaughn. He called the verdict “‘a frustrating setback’ for his client, … ‘for his family and for the extended pro-life community, which has rallied support for Paul from the day of his arrest in front of his wife and children by heavily armed FBI agents, on through the trial.’ …

“Many Republican lawmakers and others have contended,” writes Ms. Sadler, “that the Biden Administration has ‘selectively enforced’ the FACE Act to go after pro-lifers while failing to do enough to prosecute more than 100 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches since the US Supreme Court’s draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked.”

A Note for Our Readers’ Prayer Lists

MARCH 26 WILL BE THE DATE on which the US Supreme Court says it will hear oral arguments in a case challenging the federal rules governing the use of RU-486, reports Calvin Freiburger for LifeSiteNews, “in a case that has massive ramifications for the abortion lobby’s efforts to preserve abortion ‘access’ in a post-Roe v. Wade nation.”

The challenge to chemical abortion could be a real opportunity to protect innocent unborn children and their mothers, as the abortion cartel appears to be shifting significant attention and resources to poisoning developing babies rather than dismembering them.

More from the March

APPEARING ON THE STAGE at the Jan. 18 March for Life rally in Washington, DC, were Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and US Representatives Andy Harris (MD), Tim Walberg (MI), Matt Rosendale (MT) and Bob Latta (OH), as well as New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus, who addressed the crowd. And, as we reported last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) gave a major speech.

Addressing the March by brief video messages were the following United States Senators: Katie Britt & Tommy Tuberville (AL), Marco Rubio (FL), Todd Young (IN), Joni Ernst & Chuck Grassley (IA), Roger Marshall (KS), Mitch McConnell (KY), Bill Cassidy & John Kennedy (LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Pete Ricketts (NE), Tedd Budd & Thom Tillis (NC), John Hoeven (ND), James Lankford & Markwayne Mullin (OK), Mike Rounds & John Thune (SD), Ted Cruz (TX), Mitt Romney (UT) and John Barrasso (WY). We are thankful for the participation of all these lawmakers.

Below are our transcripts of the speeches of football great Ben Watson and the coach who introduced him as a surprise guest: University of Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh.

Speeches to Remember from the Jan. 18 March for Life

Transcribed by Life Advocacy Briefing from the live presentation by EWTN television network

Brief remarks by Jim Harbaugh, coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines, 2023-24 College Football Champions

             Thank you, Jeanie. Thank you all for being here. It’s a great example that you’re setting. It’s testimony for the sanctity of life. It’s a great day for a March. It’s a great day – this is football weather! Let’s go! What an incredible honor to get to introduce Ben Watson, talented individual on the field – talented, courageous, fearless leader off the field. He’s making a difference in the lives of so many. It’s my pleasure to introduce somebody who speaks truth, clarity and grace, combines bold conviction with kindness. Fearless, humble and courageous proud father of the Watson Seven, a helpful warrior for the sanctity of life – please give a great welcome to Benjamin Watson!

Keynote address by Ben Watson, former NFL star football player and frequent speaker at pro-life events, winner in 2018 of the Bart Starr Award as the NFL player who “best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community”

             Hey, Coach got me ready to go play some football! Yeah! It is an honor to be here with you all, March for Life.

             I’ve been calling the period of time we’re in right now the new fight for life. Roe is done, but  we still live in a culture that knows not how to care for life. Roe is done, but the factors that drive women to seek abortions are ever apparent and ever increasing. Roe is done, but abortion is still legal and thriving in too much of America.

             Roe is done, but even so, in the cold and the snow, you have continued to travel from around the nation to this place to recognize that the fight for Life is not over.

             God’s Word challenges us, in the book of Micah, to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly before our God. I believe that this is the essence of what it means to be with every woman and for every child. With uncommon courage, we must do justice not only by protecting innocent people and life but by correcting injustice and rebuilding opportunities so that mothers and fathers can flourish. With deep compassion, we must love kindness by offering a continuum of care that provides lasting resources and support.

             And lest we think we can continue this work in our own power, may we always realize that our wisdom and our strength is found by humbly seeking God’s direction for the path ahead.

             Emotion runs really high at mountain-top gatherings like these. But the battle is won in the valley. Men – in a country where too many in our country are crumbling – go back to your homes and fight for your families. Civic leaders, in the current climate of compromise, go back to your committees and your communities and legislate for life and for justice. All of you front-line workers in pregnancy resource centers around the country and other life-affirming organizations, go back to your posts knowing that every encounter is not simply about saving one child but you are saving generations. And all you young people, with all of your energy and all of your ingenuity, go back to your schools, and go back to your teams and your churches – be leaders that are unashamed to stand for Life.

             Friends, friends, keep pressing on, keep pressing on, keep pressing on – until abortion is not only unthinkable but for so many who think that it’s necessary, it will no longer be necessary. Friends, keep, keep, keep pressing on.

             God bless you.

House Voting Records

HR-6918 – Supporting Pregnant & Parenting Women & Families Act – Motion to Recommit –Jan. 18, 2024 – Failed 208-214  [Democrats in italics]

Voting Yes (pro-Life): Aderholt, Carl, Moore, Palmer, Rogers, Strong/AL; Biggs, Ciscomani, Crane, Gosar, Lesko, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, Duarte, M.Garcia, Issa, Kiley, Kim, LaMalfa, McClintock, Obernolte, Steel, Valadao/CA; Boebert, Buck, Lamborn/CO; Bean, Bilirakis, Buchanan, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn, Franklin, Gaetz, Gimenez, Lee, Luna, Mast, Mills, Posey, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Waltz, Webster/FL; Allen, Carter, Clyde, Collins, Ferguson, Greene, Loudermilk, McCormick, A.Scott/GA; Fulcher, Simpson/ID; Bost, LaHood, Miller/IL; Baird, Banks, Bucshon, Houchin, Pence, Spartz, Yakym/IN; Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn/IA; Estes, LaTurner, Mann/KS; Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie/KY; Graves, Higgins, Johnson, Letlow/LA; Harris/MD; Bergman, Huizenga, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg/MI; Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach, Stauber/MN; Ezell, Guest, Kelly/MS; Alford, Burlison, Graves, Luetkemeyer, Smith, Wagner/MO; Rosendale, Zinke/MT; Flood, Smith/NE; Amodei/NV; Kean, Smith, VanDrew/NJ; D’Esposito, Garbarino, LaLota, Langworthy, Lawler, Malliotakis, Molinaro, Stefanik, Tenney, Williams/NY; Bishop, Edwards, Foxx, Hudson, McHenry, Murphy, Rouzer/NC; Armstrong/ND; Balderson, Carey, Davidson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, Miller, Turner, Wenstrup/OH; Bice, Brecheen, Cole, Hern, Lucas/OK; Bentz, Chavez-DeRemer/OR; Fitzpatrick, Joyce, Kelly, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson/PA; Duncan, Fry, Mace, Norman, Timmons, Wilson/SC; Johnson/SD; Burchett, Fleischmann, Green, Harshbarger, Kustoff, Ogles, Rose/TN; Arrington, Babin, Burgess, Carter, Cloud, Crenshaw, DeLaCruz, Ellzey, Fallon, T.Gonzales, Gooden, Granger, Hunt, Jackson, Luttrell, McCaul, Moran, Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, Self, Sessions, VanDuyne, Weber, Williams/TX; Curtis, Maloy, Moore, Owens/UT; Cline, Good, Griffith, Kiggans, Wittman/VA; Newhouse, Rodgers/WA; Miller, Mooney/WV; Fitzgerald, Gallagher, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, VanOrden/WI; Hageman/WY.

Voting No (anti-Life): Sewell/AL; Peltola/AK; Gallego, Grijalva, Stanton/AZ; Aguilar, Barragan, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Eshoo, Garamendi, R.Garcia, Gomez, Harder, Huffman, Jacobs, Kamlager-Dove, Khanna, Lee, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, Mullin, Napolitano, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Porter, Ruiz, Sanchez, Schiff, Sherman, Swalwell, Takano, Thompson, Torres, Vargas, Waters/CA; Caraveo, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson/CT; Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Frankel, Frost, Soto, Wasserman–Schultz, Wilson/FL; Bishop, Johnson, McBath, D.Scott, Williams/GA; Case, Tokuda/HI; Budzinski, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, Jackson, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Quigley, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Schneider, Sorensen, Underwood/IL; Carson, Mrvan/IN; Davids/KS; McGarvey/KY; Carter/LA; Golden, Pingree/ME; Hoyer, Ivey, Mfume, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Trone/MD; Auchincloss, Clark, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan/MA; Dingell, Kildee, Scholten, Slotkin, Stevens, Thanedar, Tlaib/MI; Craig, McCollum, Omar/MN; Thompson/MS; Bush/MO; Horsford, Lee, Titus/NV; Kuster, Pappas/NH; Gottheimer, Kim, Menendez, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury, Vasquez/NM; Bowman, Clarke, Espaillat, Goldman, Higgins, Jeffries, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Ryan, Tonko, Torres/NY; Adams, Davis, Foushee, Jackson, Manning, Nickel, Ross/NC; Beatty, Brown, Kaptur, Landsman, Sykes/OH; Blumenauer, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas/OR; Boyle, Cartwright, Dean, Deluzio, Evans, Houlahan, Lee, Scanlon, Wild/PA; Amo, Magaziner/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen/TN; Allred, Casar, Castro, Crockett, Cuellar, Doggett, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, V.Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, Veasey/TX; Balint/VT; Beyer, Connolly, McClellan, Scott, Spanberger, Wexton/VA; DelBene, Jayapal, Kilmer, Larsen, Perez, Schrier, Smith, Strickland/WA; Moore, Pocan/WI.

Not Voting: Blunt-Rochester/DE; Moskowitz/FL; Rogers/KY; Scalise/LA; James/MI; Phillips/MN; Cleaver/MO; Bacon/NE; Velazquez/NY; DesJarlais, Ogles/TN.

HR-6918 – Supporting Pregnant & Parenting Women & Families Act – Motion to Recommit –Jan. 18, 2024 – Failed 208-214 [Democrats in italics]

Voting Yes (pro-Life): Aderholt, Carl, Moore, Palmer, Rogers, Strong/AL; Biggs, Ciscomani, Crane, Gosar, Lesko, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, Duarte, M.Garcia, Issa, Kiley, Kim, LaMalfa, McClintock, Obernolte, Steel, Valadao/CA; Boebert, Buck, Lamborn/CO; Bean, Bilirakis, Buchanan, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn, Franklin, Gaetz, Gimenez, Lee, Luna, Mast, Mills, Posey, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Waltz, Webster/FL; Allen, Carter, Clyde, Collins, Ferguson, Greene, Loudermilk, McCormick, A.Scott/GA; Fulcher, Simpson/ID; Bost, LaHood, Miller/IL; Baird, Banks, Bucshon, Houchin, Pence, Spartz, Yakym/IN; Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn/IA; Estes, LaTurner, Mann/KS; Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie/KY; Graves, Higgins, Johnson, Letlow/LA; Harris/MD; Bergman, Huizenga, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg/MI; Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach, Stauber/MN; Ezell, Guest, Kelly/MS; Alford, Burlison, Graves, Luetkemeyer, Smith, Wagner/MO; Rosendale, Zinke/MT; Flood, Smith/NE; Amodei/NV; Kean, Smith, VanDrew/NJ; D’Esposito, Garbarino, LaLota, Langworthy, Lawler, Malliotakis, Molinaro, Stefanik, Tenney, Williams/NY; Bishop, Edwards, Foxx, Hudson, McHenry, Murphy, Rouzer/NC; Armstrong/ND; Balderson, Carey, Davidson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, Miller, Turner, Wenstrup/OH; Bice, Brecheen, Cole, Hern, Lucas/OK; Bentz, Chavez-DeRemer/OR; Fitzpatrick, Joyce, Kelly, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson/PA; Duncan, Fry, Mace, Norman, Timmons, Wilson/SC; Johnson/SD; Burchett, Fleischmann, Green, Harshbarger, Kustoff, Ogles, Rose/TN; Arrington, Babin, Burgess, Carter, Cloud, Crenshaw, DeLaCruz, Ellzey, Fallon, T.Gonzales, Gooden, Granger, Hunt, Jackson, Luttrell, McCaul, Moran, Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, Self, Sessions, VanDuyne, Weber, Williams/TX; Curtis, Maloy, Moore, Owens/UT; Cline, Good, Griffith, Kiggans, Wittman/VA; Newhouse, Rodgers/WA; Miller, Mooney/WV; Fitzgerald, Gallagher, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, VanOrden/WI; Hageman/WY.

Voting No (anti-Life): Sewell/AL; Peltola/AK; Gallego, Grijalva, Stanton/AZ; Aguilar, Barragan, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Eshoo, Garamendi, R.Garcia, Gomez, Harder, Huffman, Jacobs, Kamlager-Dove, Khanna, Lee, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, Mullin, Napolitano, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Porter, Ruiz, Sanchez, Schiff, Sherman, Swalwell, Takano, Thompson, Torres, Vargas, Waters/CA; Caraveo, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson/CT; Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Frankel, Frost, Soto, Wasserman–Schultz, Wilson/FL; Bishop, Johnson, McBath, D.Scott, Williams/GA; Case, Tokuda/HI; Budzinski, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, Jackson, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Quigley, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Schneider, Sorensen, Underwood/IL; Carson, Mrvan/IN; Davids/KS; McGarvey/KY; Carter/LA; Golden, Pingree/ME; Hoyer, Ivey, Mfume, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Trone/MD; Auchincloss, Clark, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan/MA; Dingell, Kildee, Scholten, Slotkin, Stevens, Thanedar, Tlaib/MI; Craig, McCollum, Omar/MN; Thompson/MS; Bush/MO; Horsford, Lee, Titus/NV; Kuster, Pappas/NH; Gottheimer, Kim, Menendez, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury, Vasquez/NM; Bowman, Clarke, Espaillat, Goldman, Higgins, Jeffries, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Ryan, Tonko, Torres/NY; Adams, Davis, Foushee, Jackson, Manning, Nickel, Ross/NC; Beatty, Brown, Kaptur, Landsman, Sykes/OH; Blumenauer, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas/OR; Boyle, Cartwright, Dean, Deluzio, Evans, Houlahan, Lee, Scanlon, Wild/PA; Amo, Magaziner/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen/TN; Allred, Casar, Castro, Crockett, Cuellar, Doggett, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, V.Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, Veasey/TX; Balint/VT; Beyer, Connolly, McClellan, Scott, Spanberger, Wexton/VA; DelBene, Jayapal, Kilmer, Larsen, Perez, Schrier, Smith, Strickland/WA; Moore, Pocan/WI.

Not Voting: Blunt-Rochester/DE; Moskowitz/FL; Rogers/KY; Scalise/LA; James/MI; Phillips/MN; Cleaver/MO; Bacon/NE; Velazquez/NY; DesJarlais, Ogles/TN.