WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6945, the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, by a vote of 215–209, advancing legislation that affirms states’ authority to support pregnancy centers that provide critical assistance to women, children, and families.

“Today’s vote is a clear affirmation that states—not federal bureaucrats—should be able to support organizations that provide real help to women and families,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Pregnancy centers offer practical, compassionate assistance to women facing unexpected pregnancies, and they should not be targeted or excluded simply because they are committed to protecting both mother and child.” 

The bill clarifies that states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers and prevents federal agencies from blocking that support through regulation or reinterpretation of the law.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), co-chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus.

During House consideration, several Members spoke in support of the bill, including Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairs of the Pro-Life Caucus; Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO); and Reps. Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Vince Fong (R-CA), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Mike Bost (R-IL), and Jeff Crank (R-CO).

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the legislation.

Pregnancy centers nationwide provide a wide range of services, including pregnancy testing, prenatal and parenting education, peer-to-peer counseling, and material assistance such as diapers, baby clothes, and other essentials.

“With passage of H.R. 6945, the House has taken an important step to ensure that women are not denied access to meaningful support and life-affirming alternatives,” Tobias added. “We urge the Senate to act swiftly and send this commonsense legislation to the president’s desk.”

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.