House Republicans passed two pieces of pro-life legislation Thursday, days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion.
The first bill ensures that pregnancy resource centers cannot be excluded or restricted from receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding, as proposed in a rule by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The legislation, titled Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act and authored by Rep. Michelle Fischbach, Minnesota Republican, passed the lower chamber strictly along party lines, 214 to 208. Six Republicans and five Democrats did not vote.
Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican and co-Chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, touted the the legislation on the House floor.
“At a New Jersey pregnancy resource center dinner, 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,” Mr. Smith said. “There are more than 2,700 pregnancy resource centers throughout the United States — each and every one of them an oasis of love, compassion, empathy, respect, and care for both mothers and their precious children.”
The second bill, which also passed 212 to 207 along party lines, elevates protections and resources for college or university students who carry a pregnancy to term. It would not mandate information about abortion or contraception options.
Democratic lawmakers criticized both pieces of legislation, which likely face an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
“Anti-choice lawmakers aren’t satisfied with overturning Roe. Now they want to federally fund propaganda and use TANF – yes, funds for needy FAMILIES and kids – to pay for it,” Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio posted on X. “I voted against both GOP anti-choice bills today and will keep fighting for our rights.”
The 1973 court decision legalized abortion in all 50 states, until June 2022, when the high court overruled Roe and its subsequent Casey decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.