Legislation Would Help Pregnant Women Access Substance Abuse Treatment

Rep. Jimmy Gazaway is the lead sponsor of H.B. 1324 giving pregnant women priority access in seeking substance abuse treatment.

Last week Rep. Jimmy Gazaway (R – Paragould) filed H.B. 1324.

This good bill helps pregnant women access substance abuse programs in Arkansas.

Substance abuse can cause serious harm to unborn children.

Pregnant women with substance abuse problems may be tempted to seek an abortion rather than risk prosecution for drug use.

H.B. 1324 gives pregnant women priority access when seeking help with substance abuse, and it prevents substance abuse and recovery programs funded by Medicaid from turning a woman away solely because she is pregnant.

This bill helps protect women’s health. It would protect unborn children, and it would address one of the potential contributors to the demand for abortion in Arkansas.

You can read H.B. 1324 by Rep. Gazaway here.

Poll Finds Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Publicly Funded Abortion

A recent Marist/Knights of Columbus poll shows most Americans support restrictions on abortion in the U.S.

Pollsters surveyed 1,173 adults earlier this year.

Among other things, the survey revealed:

  • More than three quarters of Americans (76%), including a majority who identify as pro-choice, want significant restrictions on abortion.
  • 77% of those polled either “oppose” or “strongly oppose” using tax dollars to support international abortion – this is up from 75% who answered similarly each of the past two years. (Democrat – 55%, Republican – 95%, Independent – 85%)
  • Only 19% of Americans either “support” or “strongly support” funding abortions outside the US, while another 4% are unsure.
  • Only 19% of Americans either “support” or “strongly support” funding abortions outside the US, while another 4% are unsure.
  • Even among those who identify themselves as “pro-choice” in the current poll, over six in 10 (64%) say they are opposed to using tax dollars to support abortion in other countries.
  • A majority of Americans (58%) oppose using taxpayer money to fund abortions within the United States. (Democrat – 31%, Republican – 83%, Independent – 65%)

The findings come as President Biden rescinds U.S. policies preventing taxpayers from funding organizations that support abortion overseas and has recently made statements opposing the Hyde Amendment that prohibits taxpayer-funded abortion at home.

The evidence is pretty clear: Americans don’t support publicly funded abortion.

According to Gallup, most believe abortion should be completely illegal or legal only in a few cases.

Eighty-two percent of Arkansans surveyed last fall said abortion ought to be completely illegal or legal only under certain circumstances.

These latest findings just go to show that slowly but surely we are winning the fight to protect innocent human life.

Read More About This Latest Poll Here.