Pro-Choice Americans Prevail in First-Ever Congressional Vote on So-Called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers"

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, hailed the
Senate for resoundingly rejecting an amendment to a national-service
bill that would have encouraged anti-choice organizations to apply for
federal funding.

Last night's amendment offered by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), which
failed by a vote of 41 to 56, would have made so-called "crisis
pregnancy centers" explicitly eligible for federal funding for the
first time ever. Many
CPCs use deceptive, intimidating, and emotionally manipulative tactics
to block women from learning the facts about, or choosing, legal
abortion.

"We are pleased that the Senate opposed an anti-choice effort to
turn a bill designed to encourage volunteerism and civic participation
into a vehicle for anti-choice propaganda," Keenan said. "A majority of
so-called 'crisis pregnancy centers' are not licensed medical
facilities and do not have medically trained staff, although they
purport to give comprehensive reproductive-health information. Instead,
volunteers at CPCs often deprive women of the information necessary to
make an informed decision about their health-care options. It would
have been wrong for the Senate to legitimize these practices in any
way."

The Senate's vote on a measure related to CPCs coincides with NARAL
Pro-Choice America's efforts to urge Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who also
serves as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, to veto
legislation in his state that would establish a "Choose Life" license
plate that would direct funding to these organizations. Thus far, NARAL
Pro-Choice America, in partnership with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, has
channeled more than 14,000 messages from activists to the DNC urging
Gov. Kaine to veto the measure.

"We hope the Senate vote against funding for organizations that use
deceptive practices encourages Gov. Kaine to do the right thing for
Virginia women and families," Keenan said. "During this time of
economic crisis, when more and more of Virginia's women are losing
health-care coverage, the Commonwealth should focus its efforts on
supporting legitimate, comprehensive health-care options instead of
CPCs whose missions have nothing to do with health care and everything
to do with propaganda."

Gov. Kaine is considering the bill and is expected to act in a matter of days. For more information, please visit www.ProChoiceAmerica.org.