WASHINGTON, D.C.– As thousands of Americans prepare to gather for the annual March for Life celebration, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation protecting access to vital health care resources and services for pregnant women and moms. The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act (H.R. 6945), introduced by Ways and Means Committee member Representative Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), confirms that pregnancy resource centers are legitimate recipients of funding under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and prohibits government regulators from baring the use of TANF funds for such purposes. The legislation comes in the wake of an effort by then President Biden’s administration to discriminate against pregnancy resources centers and prevent states from using TANF funds to support them.

In his opening statement during debate on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) highlighted the threat the Biden Administration’s actions posed to women’s health, the critical support TANF provides to pregnancy resources centers – including in his home state of Missouri – and the blatant hypocrisy of Democrat opposition to protecting this access to health care choices for pregnant women and moms:

“Think of what would have happened to maternal care in this country. One of the few places women can get care and support would have been closed. In my home state of Missouri, three out of every four dollars the state gives to pregnancy resource centers comes from TANF. But, it’s not just Missouri. Women in other states would have had fewer choices for their own care. That’s why we are passing this bill – to give pregnant women and moms a choice about where they receive maternal care. To stop any future Administration from taking the same actions as the Biden White House.

“Democrats will talk until they’re blue in the face about a women’s right to choose, but they oppose this bill which is all about empowering women to make their own choices. Why is that? Simply because it doesn’t align with their political agenda. The hypocrisy is stunning. Democrats only believe in choice when it’s the choice their party would make.”

Click here to read Chairman Smith’s full opening statement.

Background: Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act (H.R. 6945)

• Pregnancy centers are non-profit, faith-based organizations that have a pro-life mission and provide services to pregnant women and families including pregnancy testing, prenatal and pregnancy education, ultrasounds, adoption referrals, diapers, baby clothes, linkages to housing, and other material supports. 
• Over 2,700 pregnancy centers across the country aided nearly two million people in 2024. 
• Many states use TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funding to support pregnancy centers which meet the law’s purposes by providing material support and assistance to women in need. 
• The Biden Administration proposed a rule preemptively suggesting state TANF spending on pregnancy resource centers would no longer be allowable. Under pressure from the Ways and Means Committee, the rule was withdrawn. 
• There is a need to ensure future Administrations do not pursue similar actions. 
• This bill amends TANF law to prohibit discrimination against pregnancy centers and clarify that use of funds for pregnancy centers is allowable. 

Read a fact sheet on the bill here.