[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6376]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-10. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of West Virginia urging the United 
     States Congress to grant pregnancy care centers assistance 
     for medical equipment and abstinence education in a manner 
     that does not compromise the mission or religious integrity 
     of these organizations; to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 40

       Whereas, the life-affirming impact of pregnancy care 
     centers on the women, men, children, and communities they 
     serve is considerable and growing; and
       Whereas, pregnancy care centers serve women in West 
     Virginia and across the United States with integrity and 
     compassion with more than 2,500 centers across the United 
     States providing comprehensive care to women and men facing 
     unplanned pregnancies, including resources to meet their 
     physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs; and
       Whereas, pregnancy care centers offer women free, 
     confidential and compassionate services, including pregnancy 
     tests, peer counseling, 24-hour hotlines, childbirth and 
     pregnancy classes, and referrals to community, healthcare and 
     other support services; and
       Whereas, many pregnancy care centers offer ultrasounds and 
     other medical services, information on adoption and adoption 
     referrals while encouraging women to make positive life 
     choices by equipping them with complete and accurate 
     information regarding their pregnancy options and the 
     development of the unborn; and
       Whereas, pregnancy care centers ensure that women are 
     receiving prenatal information and services that lead to the 
     birth of healthy infants; and
       Whereas, pregnancy care centers provide important support 
     and resources for women and their children; and
       Whereas, many pregnancy care centers work to prevent 
     unplanned pregnancies by teaching effective abstinence 
     education in public schools; and
       Whereas, pregnancy care centers operate primarily through 
     the designation of public funds for such organizations; 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate: That the Senate hereby recognizes 
     the many contributions of the thousands of volunteers and 
     paid staff at pregnancy care centers in West Viginia and 
     across the United States; and, be it, further
       Resolved, That the Senate extends its sincere appreciation 
     to these committed volunteers and staff who unselfishly work 
     to educate, assist and contribute to the many women, men, 
     children, families and babies that are in their need across 
     West Virginia and the entire United States; and, be it 
     further
       Resolved, That the Senate strongly encourages the United 
     States Congress and other federal and state governmental 
     agencies to grant pregnancy care centers assistance for 
     medical equipment and abstinence education in a manner that 
     does not compromise the mission or religious integrity of 
     these organizations; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a 
     copy of this resolution to each pregnancy care center in West 
     Virginia, to the President of the United States, and to the 
     President of the United States Senate and Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives.

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