III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 312 

Designating the week beginning November 8, 2015, as ‘‘National Pregnancy 

Center Week’’ to recognize the vital role that community-supported pregnancy centers (also known as pregnancy care and pregnancy resource 

centers) play in saving lives and serving women and men faced with 

difficult pregnancy decisions. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 

Mr. LEE (for himself, Mrs. ERNST, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. SESSIONS, 

Mr. INHOFE, Mr. WICKER, Mr. COCHRAN, Mr. HATCH, Mr. GRASSLEY, 

Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. DAINES, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. SCOTT, 

Mr. COATS, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. MORAN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. LANKFORD, 

Mr. SASSE, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. ENZI, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. 

CRUZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning November 8, 2015, as ‘‘National Pregnancy Center Week’’ to recognize the vital 

role that community-supported pregnancy centers (also 

known as pregnancy care and pregnancy 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; 


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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; 

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

Whereas women in every part of the United States turn to 

pregnancy centers for help, hope, and healing; 

Whereas pregnancy centers are local, nonprofit organizations 

that provide vital and compassionate support to women 

and men faced with difficult pregnancy decisions; 

Whereas pregnancy 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 counseling and education; and 

(4) parenting and childbirth classes; 

Whereas, every day in the United States, pregnancy centers 

assist an average of 6,500 people, including women and 

men of all ages and backgrounds; 

Whereas some pregnancy 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— 


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(1) provides life-affirming pregnancy centers with 

legal counsel, education, and training; 

(2) has assisted hundreds of pregnancy centers in 

becoming medical clinics; and 

(3) represented nearly 1,000 pregnancy centers that 

operate as medical clinics today; 

Whereas approximately 30,000 Americans volunteer at community-supported pregnancy centers each year, offering 

more than 5,700,000 hours of uncompensated work; 

Whereas the approximately 1,000 medical pregnancy 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 centers understand that each pregnancy 

decision is an emotional and private choice, and compassionate staff and trained volunteers of pregnancy centers— 

(1) provide each patient with educational materials; 

and 

(2) offer each patient emotional support and care to 

help each patient through difficult situations; 

Whereas close to 78 percent of pregnancy 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 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 centers have committed to engaging fathers so that they can acquire the skills necessary to become involved and responsible fathers; 

Whereas Care Net affiliated pregnancy 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 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 

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; 

Whereas the 24-hour Option Line of Heartbeat International— 


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(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 their 

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

Whereas the Care Net Pregnancy Decision Line is the only 

national hotline that provides immediate pregnancy decision coaching by highly trained coaches; 

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; 


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(C) financial management; 

(D) taxation; 

(E) medical licensure; and 

(F) operation standards; and 

Whereas less than 10 percent of the income of pregnancy 

centers in the United States derives from governmental 

sources, which ensures that pregnancy centers— 

(1) minimize burdens on each taxpayer; and 

(2) engage local communities to provide sustainable 

support: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning November 8, 

3 2015, as ‘‘National Pregnancy Center Week’’; 

4 (2) supports the important work of pregnancy 

5 centers across the United States; 

6 (3) appreciates and recognizes the thousands of 

7 volunteers and staff of pregnancy centers in the 

8 United States who give millions of hours of service 

9 each year to women and men who are faced with dif10 ficult 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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