In the Press...
CatholicVote article on the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act'Chris Smith makes case for pro-mom, pro-life bill as House advances measure'By Mary Rose Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey urged lawmakers during a House floor debate Jan. 21 to protect pregnancy care centers, sharing stories of women and families who made it through dramatic crises thanks to their work. The chamber later voted to pass legislation allowing states to direct federal welfare funds to such centers. Speaking ahead of the vote, Smith, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, argued that pregnancy resource centers are essential for women facing unplanned pregnancies and economic hardship. “These clinics are there for both mother and baby, before and after birth,” Smith said, arguing that the centers deserve protection from discrimination. Later that day, the House approved the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act by a 215–209 vote, largely along party lines. All Republicans supported the bill, joined by one Democrat: Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota and co-led by Smith and Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York, allows states to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy resource centers that provide services such as ultrasounds, prenatal education, parenting classes, diapers, baby clothing, and car seats at no cost.
During debate, Smith recounted encounters at pregnancy centers in New Jersey. For example, two women, “through tears of joy, expressed their deep and abiding gratitude for the incredible love, respect and care that persuaded them to reverse their decision to abort their babies,” he said. “They spoke of how desperate — even hopeless — they felt,” he said. “They spoke of the pressure they were under to abort, until they met the director of the pregnancy resource center, who reached out in a gentle and nonjudgmental way.” Smith said those women ultimately chose to carry their pregnancies to term. “They chose life — and thanked God, the director, and the pregnancy resource center for helping them avert the loss of their babies’ lives,” he said. Smith also recalled remarks from two teenage girls who spoke publicly about their lives — school, sports, and friendships — and their belief in the sanctity of human life. Near the end of their remarks, the girls had turned to a pregnancy center director and thanked her for supporting their mothers during difficult pregnancies. Without the center’s help, Smith recalled the girls saying, “we’d be dead.” Smith noted that such stories are repeated across the country, including in his own district, which is home to more than 55 pregnancy care centers. “These centers are filled with the most loving, compassionate, and honest people I have ever met,” he said. Smith also cited the story of Jean Marie Davis, a survivor of human trafficking who has said a pregnancy care center helped her escape exploitation and rebuild her life. “Fighting despair, and with only $1.38 to my name, I had very few places to turn,” Smith said, quoting Davis’ account. Smith said Davis was put in touch with a local pregnancy center, where she received material assistance and emotional support. “The pregnancy center provided me with free resources and support to take care of my son,” Davis said in remarks Smith quoted. “I was also able to realize and pursue dreams I had never imagined, such as earning a college degree.” Years later, Smith said, Davis applied for and became the executive director of a pregnancy resource center in Vermont. “If it hadn’t been for Phyllis and the pregnancy center, I would be dead,” Davis said, according to Smith. “They saved my life. My son saved my life.” Smith stated that the more than 2,700 pregnancy resource centers nationwide that provided over $452 million in free services in 2024 served about 1 million new clients and reported a 98% satisfaction rate. Supporters of the bill say it clarifies existing law and protects state flexibility, noting that some states already direct TANF funds to pregnancy centers because the centers help families care for children at home and reduce dependence on government assistance. Smith said the legislation was also intended to block proposed Biden administration regulations that would bar pregnancy centers from receiving TANF funds. Democrats argued that federal funds should not support organizations that oppose abortion and do not provide or refer for abortion services. The bill now heads to the Senate. |
