[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 126 (Thursday, July 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3787-S3788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 729--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING NOVEMBER 7, 2022, 
AS ``NATIONAL PREGNANCY CENTER WEEK'' TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE THAT 
COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED PREGNANCY CENTERS PLAY IN SAVING LIVES AND SERVING 
         WOMEN AND MEN FACED WITH DIFFICULT PREGNANCY DECISIONS

  Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Braun, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Fischer, 
Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Hawley, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. 
Wicker, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Daines, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Young, Mr. Thune, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
Scott of South Carolina, and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 729

       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 2019, there were approximately 2,700 
     pregnancy centers (also known as ``pregnancy care and 
     resource 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 almost 2,000,000 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 the estimated value of services provided in 2019 to 
     women and men of all ages and backgrounds was nearly 
     $270,000,000;
       Whereas some pregnancy centers offer specific medical 
     services, including--
       (1) consultation with a licensed medical professional;
       (2) a 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) has represented nearly 1,300 pregnancy centers that 
     currently operate as medical clinics;
       Whereas more than 53,000 people in the United States 
     volunteer at community-supported pregnancy centers each year;
       Whereas more than 2,130 medical pregnancy centers provide a 
     limited ultrasound at little or no cost to women;
       Whereas, in 2019, more than 486,000 ultrasounds were 
     performed at medical pregnancy centers;
       Whereas pregnancy centers understand that pregnancy can be 
     emotional for mothers and fathers, and the 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 86 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 have saved 
     more than 823,000 babies since 2008;
       Whereas Heartbeat International reports that the Abortion 
     Pill Rescue Network has saved more than 2,000 lives;
       Whereas, in the last 12 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 12 years, Care Net-affiliated 
     pregnancy centers--
       (1) provided 1,300,000 free ultrasound scans;
       (2) provided parenting support and education to 1,100,000 
     individuals;
       (3) provided material resources to more than 1,700,000 
     individuals; and
       (4) administered 3,200,000 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 centers; and

[[Page S3788]]

       (2) answers questions by phone, text, email, or chat before 
     connecting an individual with the individual's local 
     pregnancy center, where the individual will receive 1-on-1, 
     compassionate, caring support;
       Whereas Heartbeat International has made contact with over 
     4,000,000 women and men 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 
     approximately 450 maternity homes in the United States;
       Whereas 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;
       Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy 
     centers in the United States is derived from governmental 
     sources, which ensures that pregnancy centers--
       (1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and
       (2) engage local communities to provide sustainable 
     support; and
       Whereas, after the reversal of Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 
     (1973)), pregnancy centers have wrongfully been the subject 
     of vandalism and violence: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning November 7, 2022, 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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