WASHINGTON — National Right to Life commends the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for launching investigations into thirteen states for potential violations of the Weldon Amendment, a longstanding federal law that protects the conscience rights of health care providers and entities.

“Americans should never be forced to choose between their deeply held moral or religious convictions and their ability to participate in the health care system,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “We commend HHS for enforcing federal conscience protections and ensuring that states do not trample on these fundamental rights.”

The Weldon Amendment prohibits federal, state, and local governments from discriminating against health care entities that decline to participate in, pay for, or provide coverage of abortion. OCR’s action follows reports that certain states may be coercing health plans and issuers to cover abortion in violation of these protections.

“Coercing individuals or organizations to facilitate abortion against their beliefs is not only unjust—it is unlawful under federal statute,” Tobias added. “These investigations send a clear message that conscience rights are not optional and must be respected.” 

Earlier this year, OCR clarified that the Weldon Amendment applies broadly to include not only health care providers, but also insurers, employers, and plan sponsors. This clarification corrects a prior, narrower interpretation and reaffirms that conscience protections extend across the health care landscape. 

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.

WASHINGTON — A new national survey released by the Pew Research Center underscores that Americans remain deeply divided on abortion and far from united behind the abortion industry’s push for unlimited abortion.  

“Despite efforts to portray abortion as a settled issue, Americans remain deeply conflicted about abortion and continue to recognize the humanity of the unborn child,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Only a small minority of Americans support abortion without limits. Millions believe that unborn children deserve legal protection.”

The survey’s toplines found that 39% of Americans say the statement “Human life begins at conception, so an embryo is a person with rights” describes their views extremely or very well.

The survey’s toplines also reveal that only 23% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all cases, while 38% say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases—demonstrating that strong support remains for meaningful legal protections for unborn children.

The poll also highlights significant public concern about chemical abortion. Pew found that more than one-quarter of Americans say abortion pills should be illegal in their state, while nearly one in five remain unsure. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning voters, opposition to chemical abortion is even stronger.  

“Abortion advocates want to claim the public supports sweeping abortion access, including dangerous mail-order abortion pills,” Tobias said. “But the reality is that Americans remain cautious and divided, particularly when it comes to expanding chemical abortion.”

Tobias said the results show that the national conversation on abortion is far from over.  

“Many Americans recognize the humanity of the unborn child and feel compassion for women facing difficult pregnancies,” Tobias said. “That moral awareness is exactly why the pro-life work of protecting unborn children and supporting their mothers continues to resonate with millions of Americans.”

The findings reinforce the importance of continued public education on the development of the preborn baby, the risks associated with chemical abortion, and policies that protect both mother and child.  

“The American people understand that abortion is not a simple political issue—it is the moral issue of our day involving the right to life of the most vulnerable members of the human family,” Tobias said. “As more Americans learn the truth about preborn children and the realities of abortion, support for protecting innocent human life will continue to grow.”

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.

WASHINGTON — Parents in Puerto Rico who experience the loss of a baby before 20 weeks of gestation will now have the option to claim and arrange for the dignified disposition of their child’s remains under a new law signed by Governor Jenniffer González-Colón.

“National Right to Life applauds Governor Jenniffer González-Colón for signing this compassionate and respectful legislation,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Losing a baby can be a deeply painful experience for parents. This law recognizes that grief and ensures that families who wish to honor their child through a dignified burial or other respectful disposition have the ability to do so.”

Law 42-2026 establishes a clear protocol allowing parents, with medical authorization and upon request, to claim fetal remains resulting from pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks of gestation. The law recognizes the emotional impact of losing a baby and ensures that parents have the option to provide respectful treatment and disposition for their child.

The measure amends Puerto Rico’s Regulated Biomedical Waste Management Act to clarify that fetal remains from pregnancy losses occurring before 20 weeks—regardless of weight—will not be treated as regulated biomedical waste when a parent formally requests their release under procedures established by the Puerto Rico Department of Health.

Senate Bill 756, which created the new law, was authored by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and Senator Joanne Rodríguez Veve, with several senators serving as co-sponsors.

“By affirming the dignity of every human life and respecting the needs of grieving parents, Puerto Rico has taken an important step toward compassionate public policy,” Tobias said.

Similar laws exist in other jurisdictions across the United States, allowing parents the choice to claim and arrange dignified disposition of their baby’s remains following pregnancy loss.

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.

WASHINGTON — A new Wyoming law protecting an unborn child once her heart begins to beat has been signed by Gov. Mark Gordon, making the state the fifth in the nation to enact such protections.

The measure prohibits most abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, which occurs approximately 18-22 days after fertilization. The law includes an exception when necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother in cases of imminent medical danger. 

“We thank Governor Gordon for signing this vital law,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Wyoming’s action reflects an ongoing national conversation about how our laws should recognize the humanity of the unborn child while ensuring that her mother receives appropriate care.”

According to state health officials, Wyoming recorded 625 abortions in 2024, the most recent year for which complete data are available.

The enactment comes as abortion policy across the United States continues to evolve following the 2022 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned primary authority over abortion policy to the states.

Since that decision, states have taken varied approaches to abortion regulation. Some states have enacted laws protecting unborn children at different stages of pregnancy, while others have pushed for an expansion of unlimited abortion and abortion pills by mail.

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.

WASHINGTON — The Ohio Senate Health Committee today heard testimony on Senate Bill 309, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability Education (APPLE) Act, legislation designed to ensure women receive truthful information and clear notice of their legal rights before being prescribed abortion-inducing drugs.

SB 309 is Ohio’s version of National Right to Life’s model law, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act, and focuses on informed consent, transparency, and accountability in the growing chemical abortion marketplace.

In written testimony submitted to the committee, Ingrid Duran, director of the Department of State Legislation for National Right to Life (NRLC), explained that the APPLE Act responds to the “rapid rise of mail-order and telemedicine abortion pills” that increasingly bypass traditional medical safeguards.

She noted that the bill simply requires abortion providers to inform women that, should they suffer injury or death, they or their families may hold the manufacturer, distributor, health care provider, or facility accountable.

“The APPLE Act places no burdens on women seeking abortion,” Duran wrote. “It doesn’t ban abortion-inducing drugs or make them harder to obtain. Instead, it empowers women with truthful information and ensures they know their rights if something goes wrong.”

Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of Education and Research for the National Right to Life Educational Trust Fund, also submitted written testimony detailing documented complications associated with mifepristone, the abortion pill.

Citing FDA reports and independent studies, Dr. O’Bannon testified that complications can occur in more than 10% of women who take the drugs, noting that women have experienced hemorrhage, infection, ruptured ectopic pregnancies, emergency room visits, and other serious complications.

“The APPLE Act doesn’t stop anyone from getting an abortion,” Dr. O’Bannon wrote. “But it does require that abortionists give them a complete and honest representation of the risks.” 

Dr. O’Bannon also noted that the bill, “simply asks whether you care more about the lives and health and safety of women and their unborn children or are more concerned with seeking the favor and fortune of the abortion industry.” 

In-person testimony underscored the real-life impact of chemical abortion complications.

Katie DeLand of Ohio Right to Life testified that deregulation of chemical abortion has coincided with increased use and documented adverse events, including severe bleeding, infection, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies, and incomplete abortions requiring emergency care.

She emphasized that “women deserve full transparency about medical risks, particularly when those risks can be severe, permanent, or life-threatening.” 

Savannah Martin, testifying on behalf of Bella Vita Network and the Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers, shared the story of a woman identified as “Rebecca,” who suffered life-threatening complications after being prescribed abortion pills beyond the legal gestational limit.

According to the testimony, Rebecca lost consciousness, required CPR, and was transported to a hospital where she underwent an emergency dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure.

Martin urged lawmakers to ensure women understand potential risks and know how to hold providers accountable if harm occurs.

Supporters of SB 309 argue that, regardless of one’s position on abortion, informed consent and consumer protection are principles that should apply to abortion-inducing drugs just as they do to any other medical product.

The Senate Health Committee took testimony but has not yet voted on the measure.

For copies of testimony or more information about National Right to Life’s model law, the Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act, visit NRLC.org or contact the NRLC Communications Department at mediarelations@nrlc.org.

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.

Report Details Rise of Chemical Abortions, State Actions, and New Efforts to Protect Women and Unborn Children

WASHINGTON — A newly published national report documents shifts in America’s abortion landscape, highlighting the expansion of chemical abortions, shield laws that protect abortionists and not women, and renewed efforts to protect women and unborn children following the fall of Roe v. Wade.

The Status of Abortion in the United States 2026, released by National Right to Life, offers a comprehensive overview of abortion policy, statistics, and legal developments at the federal and state levels.

Among its findings:

• Chemical abortions now account for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. abortions, driven largely by mail-order pills shipped into every state, often in violation of local safeguards.
• Half of the states have moved to enshrine abortion in law or state constitutions, while 19 states currently enforce protections for unborn children at or before 12 weeks of pregnancy.
• New research shows abortion pills are associated with far higher complication rates than previously acknowledged, prompting a renewed federal review of mifepristone.
• The Hyde Amendment marks its 50th anniversary and it is estimated to have saved more than 2.6 million lives by preventing taxpayer funding of abortion.

The report also introduces National Right to Life’s APPLE Act (Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act), model legislation designed to hold abortion-pill providers accountable and give women legal recourse when harmed.

“This report makes clear that while Roe is gone, the abortion industry has simply shifted tactics—relying heavily on dangerous mail-order pills and legal loopholes to avoid accountability,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “At the same time, we’re seeing encouraging momentum in states working to protect both women and their unborn children. The APPLE Act is one important step toward restoring transparency and responsibility in an industry that has operated for too long without either.”

The 2026 edition also reviews recent federal actions affecting abortion policy, including enforcement of Hyde protections, renewed limits on international abortion funding, and pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration scrutiny of chemical abortion drugs.

“This is a moment of stark contrast in America,” Tobias added. “Some states are racing to entrench abortion at any cost, while others are advancing compassionate policies that recognize the humanity of unborn children and provide real support to mothers. Our goal is to help lawmakers and the public understand what’s happening—and why it matters.”

The Status of Abortion in the United States 2026 is National Right to Life’s 13th annual report and is available on the website here.

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.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life strongly condemned Kathy Hochul’s signing of New York’s assisted suicide legislation, warning that the law abandons suicide prevention, endangers people with disabilities, and embeds systemic discrimination into state policy.

“Assisted suicide is suicide, no matter how its advocates try to rebrand it,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “New York has chosen to redefine suicide as a medical treatment, sending a chilling message to people who are sick, disabled, or struggling that their lives are less worth protecting.” 

Proponents claim assisted suicide is restricted to those near death and in unbearable pain. In reality, so-called “terminal” prognoses are frequently wrong, and eligibility standards are elastic. In states like Oregon, pain is not among the top reasons people seek assisted suicide. Instead, the leading motivations are fear of dependency, loss of autonomy, and not wanting to live with limitations — precisely the experiences shared by millions of people with disabilities.

Presenting assisted suicide as an option distracts from the urgent need to expand access to hospice, palliative care, mental-health services, and family supports — services that affirm life and dignity even in the face of serious illness.

“True compassion does not offer a lethal prescription in place of care,” Tobias stated. “New Yorkers deserve better pain management, better emotional support, and better end-of-life care — not a shortcut to death.” 

Despite years of controversy and opposition from disability advocates, medical professionals, and suicide-prevention experts, the legislation moved forward without a recent full public hearing, even as its consequences are irreversible.

Oregon became the first state, in 1994, to legalize assisted suicide. Since then, twelve states (12) and Washington D.C. have passed similar laws.

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.

WASHINGTON — The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) today responded to news that Planned Parenthood has withdrawn its lawsuit challenging the provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill that barred Medicaid funding for abortion providers for one year.

This development marks a clear recognition that Planned Parenthood’s legal challenge lacked merit and that the federal government acted within its authority to ensure that taxpayer funds do not subsidize abortion. The lawsuit was initially filed in July 2025, three days after the bill was signed by President Trump. Last Friday, Planned Parenthood “voluntarily” dismissed its lawsuit following a series of rulings by Obama and Biden judicial appointees that slapped down injunctions blocking the provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill which defunds major abortion providers.

NRLC has long maintained that federal funding of health care should not subsidize abortion or subsidize abortion providers. This decision reinforces the principle that public funds should be directed toward genuine health care services that respect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.  

“Planned Parenthood’s decision to withdraw this lawsuit underscores the strength of the legal and moral case for ending federal Medicaid funding of abortion providers,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. “Taxpayer dollars should not be used to support organizations whose core mission includes ending innocent human life.” 

Tobias continued, “National Right to Life remains committed to advocating for policies that respect the value of every human life and ensure that no federal funds — direct or indirect — go to subsidize abortion providers.”  

Background:
• The challenged statute, adopted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law July 4, 2025, prohibits the use of Medicaid funds for reimbursements to providers whose principal activities include elective abortion.
• The First Circuit Court of Appeals allowed enforcement of the statute to continue while litigation proceeded, a ruling that significantly undercut the basis for Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit.
• The appeal court’s December 30 decision affirmed the government’s right to implement funding priorities consistent with the will of Congress and longstanding federal policy limiting abortion funding.

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.

WASHINGTON — A federal district court in Washington, D.C. has granted a motion to quash subpoenas issued to the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) in Matsumoto et al. v. Labrador, reaffirming strong First Amendment protections for national advocacy organizations.

The court’s decision shields NRLC from producing internal communications and advocacy materials sought by plaintiffs challenging Idaho House Bills 242 and 98—legislation addressing abortion trafficking of a minor enacted by the Idaho Legislature. The subpoenas were served in September 2025 and demanded broad categories of documents dating back several years.

“Today’s ruling is an important affirmation of the First Amendment rights of national advocacy organizations,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “The court correctly recognized that NRLC cannot be compelled to turn over internal strategy and communications simply because its policy advocacy is opposed by litigants challenging a duly enacted law.”

In granting NRLC’s motion to quash, the court confirmed several core principles of constitutional law:

• First Amendment Protection — Compelled disclosure of NRLC’s internal advocacy communications would impermissibly chill freedom of association and expression.
• Lack of Relevance — A private advocacy organization’s internal understanding or interpretation of legislation is not relevant to a court’s analysis of the law’s constitutionality.
• Limits on Non-Party Discovery — Broad, open-ended discovery demands directed at non-parties exceed permissible bounds, particularly when they target protected political activity.

“The court reaffirmed that discovery cannot be used as a tool to pry into the internal workings of national advocacy organizations,” said James Bopp, Jr., general counsel for National Right to Life, who represented both NRLC and Idaho Right to Life in challenging the subpoenas. “This ruling sends a clear signal that the First Amendment provides real protection against litigation tactics designed to burden or intimidate those engaged in lawful public policy advocacy.”

The court’s order granting NRLC’s motion to quash protects the organization from further discovery demands in the case and reinforces constitutional limits on compelling disclosure from non-party advocacy groups.

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.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life strongly criticized Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar (D) and Tina Smith (D) for voting against invoking cloture on the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, blocking consideration of a commonsense bill that would have ensured pregnant and parenting students are informed of the rights, accommodations, and resources already available to them under federal law.

The U.S. Senate failed to advance the legislation after the cloture vote fell short 47–45, well below the 60 votes required to proceed. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith voted to not even allow consideration or debate concerning the life-affirming of legislation.

“It is deeply troubling that Minnesota’s senators voted to block a bill that simply ensures pregnant and parenting students know their rights,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “No student should ever feel forced to choose between continuing her education and carrying her child to term.”

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act would have required colleges and universities to clearly and consistently communicate existing protections for pregnant and parenting students. The legislation did not create new regulations, penalties, or compliance burdens for schools.

The votes cast by Sens. Klobuchar and Smith are consistent with their long-standing records of support for unlimited abortion, including opposition to rational protections for unborn children and support for policies that allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy while overriding state-level safeguards.

Tobias stated, “Rather than supporting a bill focused on transparency and awareness for pregnant students, both senators again sided with an abortion lobby that treats pregnancy as a problem to be eliminated rather than a life to be supported.”

By opposing cloture, Sens. Klobuchar and Smith voted to block a measure aimed solely at ensuring women are not pressured toward abortion because they believe motherhood is incompatible with academic success.

“Pregnancy should never be treated as a liability or an inconvenience,” Tobias continued. “Blocking this legislation sends a troubling message to pregnant students in Minnesota who deserve honesty, support, and respect—not silence or pressure.”

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.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life expressed strong disappointment following Jon Ossoff’s (D-GA) vote against invoking cloture on the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, a commonsense bill that would ensure pregnant and parenting students are informed of the rights, accommodations, and resources already available to them under federal law.

The U.S. Senate failed to advance the legislation after the cloture vote fell short 47–45, below the 60 votes required to proceed.  Sen. Ossoff voted to not even allow consideration or debate concerning the life-affirming of legislation.

Sen. Ossoff’s vote is consistent with his long record of support for unlimited abortion, including opposition to rational protections for unborn children and repeated support for legislation that would allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy while overriding state-level safeguards. 

“Rather than backing a bill that simply informed pregnant students of existing rights and resources, Sen. Ossoff again sided with an abortion lobby that treats pregnancy as a problem to be eliminated rather than a life to be supported,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “No student should ever feel forced to choose between continuing her education and carrying her child to term.”

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act would have required colleges and universities to clearly and consistently communicate existing protections for pregnant and parenting students. The legislation did not impose new regulations, penalties, or compliance burdens on schools.

By opposing cloture, Sen. Ossoff voted to block a measure that focused solely on transparency and awareness—helping ensure that women are not pressured toward abortion because they believe motherhood is incompatible with academic success.

“Pregnancy should never be treated as a liability or an inconvenience,” Tobias continued. “Blocking this legislation sends a troubling message to pregnant students in Georgia and across the country who deserve honesty, support, and respect—not silence or pressure.”

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.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life today welcomed a series of significant pro-life actions taken by the Trump administration this week, culminating in powerful remarks delivered today by President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to thousands of Americans gathered for the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

In a prerecorded message to marchers, President Trump thanked participants for standing up for the unborn and reflected on the historic pro-life victories achieved during his presidency, including the appointment of judges who ultimately led to the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade. The president emphasized that building a culture of life requires action not only in government, but in communities and families across the country.

Vice President Vance, speaking live to the crowd, underscored the administration’s commitment to fostering a culture where life can thrive—one supported by policies that protect unborn children, strengthen families, and respect the consciences of Americans. He highlighted the administration’s efforts to reverse the coercive and aggressively pro-abortion policies of the previous administration and reaffirmed that the White House stands firmly with the pro-life movement.

“These remarks weren’t just symbolic,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “They were matched by concrete actions this week that demonstrate real leadership in protecting life, conscience rights, and taxpayers from being forced to subsidize abortion.” 

Among the most significant actions announced this week:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ended the use of human fetal tissue from elective abortions in all HHS-funded research, directing the department and the National Institutes of Health to rely instead on ethical, modern research alternatives.
• HHS and its Office for Civil Rights took steps to enforce federal conscience protections, including action to bring Illinois into compliance with laws prohibiting the coercion of health care providers to refer for abortion.
• Federal agencies moved to ensure Hyde Amendment compliance, including steps to prevent abortion funding within programs serving vulnerable populations.
• The administration announced a historic expansion of the Mexico City Policy, blocking U.S. taxpayer funding for international organizations that perform or promote abortion abroad.
• Federal action was taken to halt taxpayer funding of abortion-related travel and to initiate fraud investigations involving misuse of federal funds by abortion providers.

“For 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has affirmed a simple but profound principle: Americans should not be forced to fund abortion,” Tobias said. “This administration is showing that the federal government still has a vital role to play—enforcing conscience protections, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and rejecting the idea that abortion should be treated as a public good.” 

National Right to Life noted that the administration’s actions, announced during the week of the March for Life and the 50th anniversary year of the Hyde Amendment, reflect a consistent commitment to policies that respect both women and their children.

“These steps move our nation closer to a culture that recognizes every child as a gift and every family as worthy of support,” Tobias added. “We look forward to continuing to work with the administration and Congress to defend life at every stage.”

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.

WASHINGTON — A newly released national poll conducted by the Marist Poll and commissioned by the Knights of Columbus confirms that a strong majority of Americans continue to support meaningful limits on abortion and overwhelmingly favor pregnancy resource centers that provide assistance to women and their children.

“These findings once again demonstrate that the American people are far more pro-life than the loudest voices in Washington or the media would have us believe,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “A clear majority of Americans support reasonable limits on abortion and strongly support pregnancy centers that offer women real help, not pressure.”

According to the 2026 Knights of Columbus–Marist Poll, 67 percent of Americans support placing legal limits on abortion and found broad consensus around policies that protect both women and unborn children, with 88 percent of respondents agreeing that laws can protect both the mother and her unborn child.

Support for pregnancy resource centers remains exceptionally strong. The poll shows that 84 percent of Americans support pregnancy centers, which provide practical help to women during pregnancy and after birth. Additionally, 63 percent of Americans believe healthcare professionals with religious objections to abortion should not be legally required to perform them.

“The Marist poll confirms what we see every day across the country,” Tobias added. “Americans want laws that respect life, protect women, and allow pregnancy centers to continue their vital work without discrimination or government interference. Policymakers should take note: supporting mothers and protecting unborn children is not a fringe position—it is the mainstream American view.”

The poll also underscores the stability of public opinion in the years following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Despite political rhetoric suggesting dramatic shifts, Americans continue to favor policies that limit abortion while recognizing the importance of compassion, support, and care for women facing difficult pregnancies.

The survey was conducted January 12–13, 2026, among 1,408 adults nationwide, with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.

The poll results should encourage lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to advance policies that strengthen families, safeguard conscience rights, and ensure that pregnancy centers remain free to serve women and children in need.

The poll can be found here.

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.

WASHINGTON — National Right to Life today praised comprehensive enforcement and policy actions announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect health care provider conscience rights and affirm the dignity of human life, consistent with long-standing federal law and the Hyde Amendment.

Among the actions announced, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Notice of Violation to the State of Illinois, finding that an Illinois law violates federal conscience protections by conditioning liability protections on abortion referral requirements. According to HHS, the state unlawfully forces health care providers with moral or religious objections to abortion to refer patients for abortion in order to receive protections under state law.

“OCR’s action sends a clear message that no state may coerce health care professionals into violating their conscience as the price of practicing medicine,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Federal law has long protected doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical institutions from being forced to participate in abortion. HHS is right to enforce those protections and hold states accountable when they ignore them.”

The action enforces the Weldon Amendment and the Coats-Snowe Amendment, which prohibit government discrimination against health care entities that refuse to perform, refer for, arrange, pay for, or provide coverage of abortion.

In addition to the Illinois enforcement action, OCR announced significant deregulatory measures, rescinding or formally repudiating eight prior guidance documents issued under the previous administration that were outdated, inconsistent with federal law, or improperly expanded abortion-related mandates under the guise of conscience enforcement.

“These deregulatory steps correct years of legal overreach that distorted conscience laws and treated abortion as an entitlement rather than a grave moral issue,” Tobias said. “By restoring the law to its proper meaning, HHS is protecting both conscience rights and respect for human life.”

To further clarify federal protections, OCR also issued a nationwide Dear Colleague Letter summarizing all federal health care conscience statutes, including those related to abortion and assisted suicide. The letter is intended to serve as a comprehensive educational resource for states, health care providers, and institutions regarding their rights and obligations under federal law.

“Respect for conscience and respect for life are inseparable,” Tobias added. “We commend HHS for enforcing the law as written and for standing up for the rights of health care professionals who should never be forced to choose between their careers and their moral convictions.”

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.

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.