This is what we’ve been worried about – the potential of a direct threat to our pregnancy resource centers..
Every year pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) give out millions of dollars in diapers, baby clothes, parenting classes, and more, to pregnant women as well as new mothers, all free of charge. Rather than seeing PRCs for what they are – charitable organizations that give women life-affirming choices– the abortion industry views them as a threat to their bottom line. Every woman who visits a PRC and chooses life means lost revenue to abortion providers.
Ever since abortion advocates in the Illinois legislature repealed our last pro-life law, Parental Notice of Abortion, we have been hearing rumors that the abortion industry might be coming for our PRCs next. This week we saw what this might look like.
On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York signed a package of bills designed to protect the abortion industry in her state. One of these newly-signed laws spells trouble for our friends at pregnancy resource centers in pro-abortion states throughout the nation, including Illinois.
New York’s newly-signed S. 470, “Authorizes the commissioner of health to conduct a study and issue a report examining the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant women in New York and the impact of limited service pregnancy centers on the ability of women to obtain accurate, non-coercive health care information and timely access to a comprehensive range of reproductive and sexual health care services.”
In short, the bill mandates an investigation of New York’s pregnancy resource centers in order to “[Establish] specific recommendations for solutions to address any service gaps or negative impact [caused by pregnancy resource centers] in the state identified through the study.”
S. 470 states that a task force will be convened to study the PRCs. Think it will be fair and impartial? Think again. The law specifically requires that the committee include an abortion provider, an abortion activist, and a representative of what’s called, “The Bureau of Social Justice.” No pro-life representation is required.
So, in summary, New York’s new law requires a panel of pro-abortion advocates to investigate the work of New York’s pregnancy resource centers and then make recommendations as to how to deal with their “negative impact”..
This is a potential disaster for PRCs..
What is their end-game in New York? We don’t know, but our suspicion is that this could be the first step in legitimizing future efforts to demonize and shut down PRCs in New York state.
Why are we concerned about a new law in New York? As you’ll recall, New York state passed their own Reproductive Health Act just a few short months before Illinois’s.
We know that, unless we stop them first, abortion advocates in Illinois will not stop until all traces of the pro-life movement are eradicated in our state. It is possible, even probable, that similar bills targeting pregnancy resource centers will come to Illinois.
Make no mistake: Illinois Right to Life Action, will do everything in our power to protect our pregnancy resource centers, but we need your help!
The work of Illinois Right to Life Action depends entirely on your generosity. Please give your best gift today so we can be prepared to defend pregnancy resource centers from any and all attacks that will be coming from abortion advocates.
Thank you for your support! Illinois Right to Life Action is committed to stopping the abortion industry as well as educating the people of Illinois about our radical abortion laws as well as the radical abortion advocates promoting them. Together, we can and we will win Illinois for life!