[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 10, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7917-S7918]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 312--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING NOVEMBER 8, 2015, 
AS ``NATIONAL PREGNANCY CENTER WEEK'' TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT 
COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED PREGNANCY CENTERS (ALSO KNOWN AS PREGNANCY CARE AND 
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS) PLAY IN SAVING LIVES AND SERVING WOMEN AND 
              MEN FACED WITH DIFFICULT PREGNANCY DECISIONS

  Mr. LEE (for himself, Mrs. Ernst, Mr. Risch, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. 
Sessions, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Grassley, 
Mr. Rounds, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Daines, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Scott, Mr. Coats, 
Mr. Portman, Mr. Moran, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Sasse, Mr. 
Roberts, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Cruz) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 312

       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 dedicated to rescuing 
     as many lives as possible from abortion;
       Whereas, as of 2013, there were approximately 2,500 
     pregnancy 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 more than 2,300,000 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, every day in the United States, pregnancy centers 
     assist an average of 6,500 people, including women and men of 
     all ages and backgrounds;
       Whereas some pregnancy centers offer specific medical 
     services, including--
       (1) consultation with a licensed medical professional;
       (2) 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) represented nearly 1,000 pregnancy centers that operate 
     as medical clinics today;
       Whereas approximately 30,000 Americans volunteer at 
     community-supported pregnancy centers each year, offering 
     more than 5,700,000 hours of uncompensated work;
       Whereas the approximately 1,000 medical pregnancy centers 
     that provide limited ultrasound deliver limited ultrasound at 
     little or no cost to women;
       Whereas, in 2010, close to 230,000 ultrasounds were 
     performed at pregnancy medical centers;
       Whereas pregnancy centers understand that each pregnancy 
     decision is an emotional and private choice, and 
     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 78 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--
       (1) have saved more than 462,000 babies since 2008; and
       (2) saved 73,000 babies in 2014 alone;
       Whereas Heartbeat International reports that Heartbeat 
     International affiliated pregnancy centers rescue 160,000 
     babies from the risk of abortion each year;
       Whereas, in the last 7 years, 8 of 10 women considering 
     abortion when they entered a Care Net affiliated pregnancy 
     care and resource center ended up choosing life;
       Whereas, in the last 7 years, Care Net affiliated pregnancy 
     centers--
       (1) provided 698,649 free ultrasound scans;
       (2) provided parenting support and education to 828,190 
     individuals;
       (3) provided material resources to more than 1,200,000 
     individuals; and
       (4) administered 2,100,000 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 help centers; and
       (2) answers questions by phone, text, email, or chat before 
     connecting an individual with the local pregnancy help 
     organization of the individual where the individual will 
     receive 1-on-1, compassionate, caring support;
       Whereas, in 2014 Heartbeat International received their 
     2,000,000th contact 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 
     413 maternity homes in the United States;
       Whereas, in 2008, 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--
          (A) scientific and medical accuracy;
          (B) truth in advertising;
          (C) compassion;
          (D) nondiscrimination;
          (E) patient confidentiality;
          (F) staff training; and
          (G) a consistent life ethic; and
       (2) expands the determination of the pregnancy help 
     movement to comply with applicable legal requirements 
     regarding--
          (A) employment;
          (B) fundraising;
          (C) financial management;
          (D) taxation;
          (E) medical licensure; and
          (F) operation standards; and
       Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy 
     centers in the United States derives from governmental 
     sources, which ensures that pregnancy centers--
       (1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and
       (2) engage local communities to provide sustainable 
     support: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning November 8, 2015, as 
     ``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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