Rep. Davis To Introduce Bill That Aims To Reduce Number Of Abortions By Creating Support Programs For Pregnant Women

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), who opposes abortion rights, on Wednesday is scheduled to announce he is introducing a bill that would aim to reduce the number of abortions by establishing health care- and child care-related programs to support pregnant women, Roll Call reports. The measure -- called the Pregnant Women Support Act -- is modeled after Democrats for Life of America's "95-10 Initiative," which aims to reduce the U.S. abortion rate by 95% over the next 10 years. According to Roll Call, another bill (HR 6067) -- which was introduced last week by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who opposes abortion rights, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who supports abortion rights -- also is modeled in part on the 95-10 Initiative (Yanchin, Roll Call, 9/20). Ryan and DeLauro's bill would require states to cover contraceptives for women with incomes of up to 200% of the federal poverty level, establish grants for sex education programs and require programs with a focus on abstinence to include thorough instruction on contraceptives. The measure, 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 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/15).

DFLA Position
DFLA has endorsed Davis' measure but has not endorsed the Ryan-DeLauro bill. DFLA Executive Director Kristen Day said while the organization is not opposed to contraception use, the group is concerned the contraception-related provisions in the Ryan-DeLauro bill could divert attention from the overall bill (Roll Call, 9/20). "Ryan's bill places more emphasis on contraception, and ... Davis' bill focuses on helping pregnant women" Day said, adding, "We share Davis' belief that supporting women who find themselves in a crisis or unplanned pregnancy is critical" (DFLA release, 9/15). Ryan spokesperson Ryan Keating said, "We see the bills as different means to achieve the same end, which is reducing abortion." He added, "We're obviously partial to our bill. We see their bill as a step in the right direction." Neither measure has companion legislation in the Senate (Roll Call, 9/20).

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