Family Council Joins National Brief Defending Pro-Life Centers from Government Overreach

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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.

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State Could Begin Accepting Grant Applications from Pregnancy Centers Next Month

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The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced it expects applications for the 2023 Pregnancy Help Organizations Grant Program to open next month.

In April, Gov. Sanders signed Act 622 of 2023 authorizing $1 million in state-funded grants for crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and social services agencies that provide material support to women with unplanned pregnancies.

Under Act 622, the Department of Finance and Administration distributes this grant funding to eligible organizations that provide women and families with alternatives to abortion. In a recent announcement, the agency wrote,

The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) will be seeking applications for funding from organizations eligible to apply under the Pregnancy Help Organizations (PHOs) Grant Program.  This grant program was established for the purpose of encouraging females facing unwanted pregnancy to give birth to their unborn child. DFA is the designated state entity to administer the PHO Grant Program in accordance with Act 622 of 2023. Pregnancy Resource Center Grant | Department of Finance and Administration (Arkansas.gov).

Once preliminary procedures are completed in accordance with state law, DFA will open the Request for Applications. 

The anticipated opening date is mid October.  Announcements will be posted on our website at the link above. 

Since the 2022 Dobbs decision reversing Roe v. Wade, state legislatures around the country have ramped up state funding for pregnancy help organizations.

For example, Ohio recently raised its state budget for pregnancy resource centers to $14 million per biennium.

In Tennessee, legislators appropriated $20 million for pro-life organizations that provide alternatives to abortion. Florida’s state budget allocates $30 million pregnancy help organizations.

The Texas Legislature budgets $50 million per year to its abortion alternatives program.

And Kansas — where some 405 women from Arkansas had abortions in 2022 — will provide $2 million to pregnancy centers in the coming months.

In June the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration finished awarding $1 million in grant funds to pregnancy help organizations as part of the 2022-2023 budget cycle. Now the state is preparing to award another million dollars by June 30, 2024. This grant funding will support women with unplanned pregnancies and help build a culture of life in Arkansas. That’s something to celebrate.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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