[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 87 (Friday, May 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE STOP DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING FOR WOMEN'S SERVICES ACT 
                                (SDAWS)

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 24, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing 
important legislation that will protect the rights of women seeking 
information on family planning services. Too often, women who are 
facing the difficult consequences of an unintended pregnancy are being 
deceived and intimidated. Fake reproductive health clinics entice women 
with unintended pregnancies through their doors under the pretense of 
providing the full range of reproductive options. Called crisis 
pregnancy centers (CPCs), they pose as sources of unbiased pregnancy 
counseling using neutral-sounding names and advertisements. Some of 
these centers have even conducted market research to ensure that women 
looking for healthcare will be tricked into believing that the anti-
choice centers will provide unbiased medical information. The centers 
also lure unsuspecting women with the offer of free pregnancy testing 
or HIV tests. Once inside, the clinic staff--usually volunteers with no 
professional training--try to dissuade women from abortion by 
subjecting them to inaccurate medical information, anti-choice 
propaganda, and intimidation.
  In response to the deceitful practices of these centers, this 
legislation requires the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate rules 
under the Federal Trade Commission Act, declaring it an unfair or 
deceptive act for an entity, such as a crisis pregnancy center, to 
advertise as a provider of abortion services if the entity does not 
provide abortion services. Working together we can help stop the fraud 
these deceptive Crisis Pregnancy Centers are perpetrating on the women 
of America.

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