Family Council Joins National Brief Defending Pro-Life Centers from Government Overreach
Last week, Family Council joined 68 other individuals and organizations in an amicus brief supporting pro-life pregnancy resource centers in federal court.
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers in New Jersey is defending itself and its supporters against the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. The state A.G. has subpoenaed a massive amount of information from First Choice — including donation information that may be sensitive.
The amicus brief argues that the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is threatening First Choice’s freedoms of speech and association. It also alleges that the A.G.’s office is not using its subpoena powers to enforce the law but rather “to demand a treasure trove of data” from a legitimate pro-life organization.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that government officials have targeted pro-life pregnancy resource centers.
The New York Attorney General recently threatened to punish pregnancy resource centers that promote or provide abortion pill reversal.
During the Biden Administration, federal officials tried to prevent pregnancy resource centers from receiving public funding under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
And California policymakers have tried unsuccessfully to make pregnancy resource centers promote abortion.
Pregnancy resource centers offer women real options besides abortion. Many of these centers provide everything from ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to maternity clothes and adoption referrals — typically free of charge.
That’s part of the reason Arkansas provides millions of dollars in publicly funded grants for these organizations. It’s a way Arkansas can use public funds to support women and children without expanding government or creating new state programs.
Family Council is pleased to stand up for pro-life pregnancy resource centers in Arkansas and around the country. We hope all of our state and federal officials will do so as well.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
Family Council Submits Statement in Support of Rule to End Pro-Abortion Policies at VA
Last Friday, Family Council submitted a public statement in support of a federal rule change that would help prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from performing or paying for abortions.
Up until September of 2022, VA hospitals generally did not perform or fund abortions except to save the life of the mother. However, under the Biden Administration, the VA added broad “health” exceptions for abortion as part of an effort to expand abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Health exceptions for abortion are notoriously vague and can lead to abortion on demand in many cases. That’s why states like Arkansas limit abortion to situations where the mother’s life is at risk instead of using a broader “health” exception.
The Trump Administration’s proposed rule change would restore federal policies that were in place prior to 2022 and help protect women and unborn babies from abortion under the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Family Council submitted a public statement in support of the proposal, writing:
Dear Secretary Collins,
Family Council in Arkansas supports the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposal that would restore VA policies against abortion and abortion counseling (RIN 2900–AS31, Federal Register Doc. 2025–14687).
Arkansas’ elected officials have passed laws generally prohibiting abortion except to save the life of the mother. The VA’s 2022 rules contain broad exceptions that could permit abortions at VA facilities in states like Arkansas, contrary to state law. Returning to the pre-2022 rules would help prevent federal policy from undermining democratically-enacted abortion restrictions in states like Arkansas.
We strongly support the proposed rule and ask that it be finalized and implemented as soon as possible.
The federal government has no business trying to overrule state pro-life laws or turn VA hospitals into abortion facilities. Family Council appreciates all of the pro-life leaders who have stood against these bad federal policies, and we appreciate the Trump administration’s decision to rescind President Biden’s flawed rules from 2022.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.