IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 510 

Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 8, 2015, as 

‘‘National Pregnancy Center Week’’ to recognize the vital role that pregnancy care and resource centers play in saving lives and serving women 

and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 3, 2015 

Mrs. HARTZLER (for herself, Mr. FLEMING, Mr. HUELSKAMP, and Mr. PITTS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the designation of the week beginning November 

8, 2015, as ‘‘National Pregnancy Center Week’’ to recognize the vital role that pregnancy care and resource 

centers play in saving lives and serving women and men 

faced with difficult pregnancy decisions. 

Whereas for more than 100 years, young women facing unplanned pregnancies have found support from charitable 

organizations ranging from Catholic Charities and Jewish 

Maternity Homes to the Salvation Army; 

Whereas many charitable organizations banded together on 

November 13, 1971, to form the first United States association of nonprofit organizations dedicated to rescuing 

as many lives as possible from abortion; 


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Whereas, as of 2013, there were approximately 2,500 pregnancy care and resource centers in the United States; 

Whereas women in every part of the United States turn to 

pregnancy care and resource centers for help, hope, and 

healing; 

Whereas pregnancy care and resource centers are local, nonprofit organizations that provide vital and compassionate 

support to women and men faced with difficult pregnancy 

decisions; 

Whereas pregnancy care and resource centers reach more 

than 2,300,000 people each year through a combination 

of client services, including— 

(1) pregnancy tests; 

(2) ultrasound and medical services; 

(3) options for counseling and education; and 

(4) parenting and childbirth classes; 

Whereas every day in the United States, pregnancy care and 

resource centers assist an average of 6,500 people of the 

United States, including female, male, young, and old individuals; 

Whereas some pregnancy care and resource centers offer specific medical services, including— 

(1) consultation with a licensed medical professional; 

(2) limited ultrasound for pregnancy confirmation; 

and 

(3) testing for sexually transmitted infections and 

diseases; 

Whereas the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates— 

(1) provides life-affirming pregnancy care and resource centers with legal counsel, education, and training; 


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(2) has assisted hundreds of pregnancy care and resource centers in becoming medical clinics; and 

(3) represented nearly 1,000 pregnancy care and resource centers that operate as medical clinics today; 

Whereas approximately 30,000 people of the United States 

volunteer at pregnancy care and resource centers each 

year, where those people offer more than 5,700,000 hours 

of uncompensated work; 

Whereas the approximately 1,000 medical pregnancy care 

and resource centers that provide limited ultrasound deliver limited ultrasound at little or no cost to women; 

Whereas in 2010, close to 230,000 ultrasounds were performed at pregnancy medical centers; 

Whereas pregnancy care and resource centers understand 

that each pregnancy decision is an emotional and private 

choice, and compassionate staff and trained volunteers of 

pregnancy care and resource centers— 

(1) provide each patient with educational materials; 

and 

(2) offer each patient emotional support and care to 

equip each patient through difficult situations; 

Whereas close to 78 percent of pregnancy care and resource 

centers in the United States offer specialized parenting 

education— 

(1) through direct services on premises; or 

(2) in nearby churches, schools, or other locations; 

Whereas nearly every pregnancy care and resource center 

provides clients with material support for pregnancy and 

infant care, which may include— 

(1) maternity clothing; 

(2) baby clothes and furniture; 


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(3) housing assistance; or 

(4) nutritional counseling and resources; 

Whereas pregnancy care and resource centers— 

(1) do not discriminate based on age, race, nationality, creed, religious affiliation, disability, or arbitrary 

circumstances; and 

(2) take special care to provide help to underserved 

minority populations; 

Whereas pregnancy care and resource centers have committed 

to engaging fathers so that fathers can acquire the skills 

necessary to become involved and responsible fathers; 

Whereas Care Net affiliated pregnancy care and resource 

centers— 

(1) have saved more than 462,000 babies since 

2008; and 

(2) saved 73,000 babies in 2014 alone; 

Whereas Heartbeat International reports that Heartbeat 

International affiliated pregnancy care and resource centers rescue 160,000 babies from the risk of abortion each 

year; 

Whereas in the last 7 years, 8 of 10 women considering abortion when they entered a Care Net affiliated pregnancy 

care and resource center ended up choosing life; 

Whereas in the last 7 years, Care Net affiliated pregnancy 

care and resource centers— 

(1) provided 698,649 free ultrasound scans; 

(2) provided parenting support and education to 

828,190 individuals; 

(3) provided material resources to more than 

1,200,000 individuals; and 

(4) administered 2,100,000 pregnancy tests; 


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Whereas the 24-hour Option Line of Heartbeat International— 

(1) helps carry out a mission of reaching and rescuing as many lives as possible around the world through 

an effective network of life-affirming pregnancy help centers; and 

(2) answers questions by phone, text, email, or chat 

before connecting an individual with the local pregnancy 

help organization of the individual where the individual 

will receive 1-on-1, compassionate, caring support; 

Whereas in 2014, Heartbeat International received the 

2,000,000th contact through the Option Line; 

Whereas Heartbeat International reports the existence of 413 

maternity homes in the United States; 

Whereas in 2008, Care Net, Heartbeat International, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and other 

groups issued a statement entitled ‘‘Our Commitment of 

Care and Competence’’, which— 

(1) addresses issues including— 

(A) scientific and medical accuracy; 

(B) truth in advertising; 

(C) compassion; 

(D) nondiscrimination; 

(E) patient confidentiality; 

(F) staff training; and 

(G) a consistent life ethic; and 

(2) expands the determination of the pregnancy help 

movement to comply with applicable legal requirements 

regarding— 

(A) employment; 

(B) fundraising; 

(C) financial management; 


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(D) taxation; 

(E) medical licensure; and 

(F) operation standards; and 

Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy 

care and resource centers in the United States derives 

from governmental sources, which ensures that pregnancy 

care and resource centers— 

(1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and 

(2) engage local communities to provide sustainable 

support: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of National Preg3 nancy Center Week; 

4 (2) supports the important work of pregnancy 

5 care and resource centers across the United States; 

6 (3) appreciates and recognizes the thousands of 

7 volunteers and staff of pregnancy care and resource 

8 centers in the United States who give millions of 

9 hours of service each year to women and men who 

10 are faced with difficult pregnancy decisions; and 

11 (4) recognizes the importance of— 

12 (A) protecting life; and 

13 (B) assisting women and men in need as 

14 they bring children into the world. 

Æ 


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