The House is considering a plan that would give government grants to community-based pregnancy-resource centers for the purchase of ultrasound equipment. But with the current leadership in Congress, the legislation may have a tough time getting through committee.
H.R. 223, the Informed Choice Act, would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to offer federal money to clinics that provide free services to women, according to its sponsor, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla.
"Ultrasound equipment can give women, particularly poor women, an opportunity to see the fetus and understand the scope of what they're doing, if they have an unplanned pregnancy," the congressman said.
While Stearns hopes every pregnant woman will choose life, his bill could have a difficult time in the Democrat-led House.
"If we can at least get a hearing on this and get witnesses, then I think it will build up the kind of support and consensus we need to move it through the House," he told Family News in Focus.
The truth is, even when the Republicans were in charge, federal money for ultrasound didn’t get much play, according to Carrie Gordon Earll, senior analyst for bioethics at Focus on the Family Action. She isn’t holding out hope this time around, either.
"From what we’ve seen in the first week or so of this Congress, it's hostile not only to faith, but to life," Earll said. "I would not be very optimistic about the chances of a bill like this that is obviously pro-life."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Focus on the Family's Option Ultrasound Program offers grants to participating pregnancy-resource centers for 80 percent of the cost of a new ultrasound machine or sonography training for medical personnel. Visit the Option Ultrasound Web page to learn more.
(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)
