House Democrats introduce bill that aims to reduce unintended pregnancies, abortions

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who opposes abortion rights, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who supports abortion rights, and other House Democrats last Thursday at a press conference announced the introduction of legislation (HR 6067) that aims to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions, Copley/Canton Repository reports (Krawzak, Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15).

The bill, called the Reducing the Need for Abortions and Supporting Parents Act, would require states to cover contraceptives for women with incomes of up to 200% of the federal poverty level and would require physicians who perform abortions on minors to notify parents of risks associated with the procedure, the Chicago Tribune reports. The bill also would establish grants for sex education programs and would require programs with a focus on abstinence to include thorough instruction on contraceptives (Dorning, Chicago Tribune, 9/14). The bill, which includes 20 initiatives, also would increase funding for health care for low-income women with children, provide no-cost visits from nurses to teens and women who have given birth for the first time, expand a tax credit for adoption and fund child care services for parents in college, the Youngstown Vindicator reports.

Support, Opposition

"Solving problems often requires us to build new coalitions," Ryan, a member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said, adding, "Democrats are united in our efforts to significantly reduce the number of abortions in America by broadening the stagnant political debate that too often accompanies this issue." According to Ryan Keating, a spokesperson for Ryan, no Republicans were asked to sponsor the bill. "It's hard enough to get Democrats on board with this," Keating said (Skolnick, Youngstown Vindicator, 9/15). DeLauro said the 10 co-sponsors of the legislation, all of whom are Democrats, are "serious about addressing the issue of abortion head-on, while protecting the privacy of women and their families." Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the CPLC, said the measure would "lead to more abortions, not less" because the increased funding for contraception services would go to family planning clinics that offer abortion services at the same facility. According to Copley/Repository, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the Democratic co-chair of the CPLC, does not support the legislation. A spokesperson for Oberstar said the bill will not win the backing of the entire caucus, which includes about 200 Republicans and 35 Democrats, because of the contraception provisions. Democrats for Life of America Executive Director Kristen Day said her group also does not support the measure. According to Day, the group helped develop the bill but withdrew its support because of the pregnancy prevention emphasis. "Our goal is to help pregnant women," Day said, adding that she thinks Ryan's goal is "more prevention and contraception" (Copley/Canton Repository, 9/15). Day said that the group next week will introduce its own bill that focuses more on supporting women who are pregnant (Oravecz, Warren Tribune Chronicle, 9/15). According to CongressDaily, the co-sponsors of the bill at the news conference said the bill is unlikely to reach the full House for a vote, but they hope to set up introduction of a similar bill next year (CongresDaily, 9/14).