[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12527]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF ``STOP DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING IN WOMEN'S SERVICES ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 2010

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Stop 
Deceptive Advertising in Women's Services (SDAWS) Act with 11 other 
Members of the House of Representatives. Senator Menendez is 
introducing the companion legislation in the Senate as well.
  Fake reproductive health clinics that sometimes bill themselves as 
legitimate crisis pregnancy centers entice women with unintended 
pregnancies through their doors under the pretense of providing a full 
range of reproductive options, and then try to dissuade women from 
abortion by subjecting them to inaccurate medical information, anti-
choice propaganda, and intimidation. This bill would help stop the 
fraud that these crisis pregnancy centers are perpetrating on the women 
of America.
  The SDAWS Act directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to 
promulgate rules 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. 
Organizations that are not deceptive in their advertising or marketing 
will not be impacted by this bill.
  The Stop Deceptive Advertising in Women's Services Act (SDAWS) serves 
to protect women seeking information about reproductive options from 
being subject to disturbing anti-choice propaganda and misinformation 
about the nature of abortion and its medical effects. Women have a 
right to unbiased pregnancy counseling, and should not be subject to 
deceptive advertising from anti-choice centers about the nature of 
their services.
  Too many studies have documented that some CPCs are intentionally 
deceiving women, providing false or misleading information about the 
health effects of abortion, the effect of abortion on future fertility, 
and the mental health effects of abortion. Women deserve accurate 
medical information when making tough medical decisions. We must not 
allow this type of behavior to be perpetrated against women seeking 
reproductive health services.

                          ____________________