Heartbeat joins Sister Organizations to Defend Pregnancy Centers against Hostile Legislation

In January, Heartbeat worked with National Institute for Family Life Advocates and Care Net, as well as state groups and local center directors to defeat two new legislative attacks.  Legislation designed to thwart the good work of pregnancy help centers (PHCs) was introduced in state legislatures in Virginia and then in Washington.  These proposed bills were similar to earlier bills designed to harass pregnancy support ministries.  Abortion lobbyists proposing these bills charged that PHCs mislead women by providing information about abortion risks— the vital life-saving facts those abortion providers often leave out.

You can see billboards in Virginia sponsored by the local PHCs that read: “Pregnant? Scared? Need Help? Call Us!” Abortion supporters somehow consider this “false advertising” because the person answering the phone is not selling abortion but providing practical life-affirming help to pregnant women, letting them know that it’s okay to have the baby.  The women who answer these calls serve in the PHC precisely because they know the fear caused by an unexpected pregnancy.  Some know the bitter anguish that follows abortion.  All are motivated by a passion to serve.

Planned Parenthood, the world’s largest abortion business and NARAL Pro Choice, nonetheless took this charge of “false advertising” in a biased report they created to the Virginia General Assembly lobbied for HB 452, a bill that would regulate PHCs in a way that impugns their reputation and diminishes their effectiveness.  The bill was designed to strangle PHCs in Virginia with bureaucratic red tape.

HB 452 stipulations:  Placement of a sign stating that the center does not perform or refer women for abortions and that it does not provide or refer for contraception. It called for the collection by the state of all materials distributed at the center, and also mandated board member from the center sign stating that they provide only factual and medically accurate information about pregnancy, contraception, and abortion.

You can be proud of how our strong coalition of pro-life organizations rushed in to defend the PHCs.  The PHC state coalition swung into action.  State pro-family foundations, Care Net, NIFLA and Heartbeat International staff met quickly to plan and mobilize an overpowering grassroots response to defeat the bill.  It worked.  Even more, the abortion supporters who accused the PHCs of doing something misleading were exposed for the deceptive way they brought their false accusations.  NARAL’s bogus “report” on PHCs could not withstand the light of truth.

During the Virginia House subcommittee hearing, Delegate Stolle asked NARAL’s only witness, Dr. Wendy Klein of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, whether NARAL’s undercover study was unbiased.  She responded, “I would, uh…that is a very good question…” She also admitted that the so-called report “has methodological flaws” and that she would not change her medical practices based on such a study.  The committee rejected HB 452. (Del. Stolle’s question heard here. http://www.youtube.com/TheFamilyFoundation#p/u/20/zn2SUgqZfxs)

Shortly after the legislative attack in Virginia, Planned Parenthood attempted to drive similar mandates through the Washington State Legislature.  Heartbeat again rushed to defend PHCs.  Heartbeat called on longstanding contacts in the area to gain a political advantage on the inside. A Heartbeat board member living in Washington worked with our sister organizations to rally a strong defense.

Paula was a strong witness in defense of pregnancy centers and helped coordinate the testimony of others. She also arranged for individuals to meet with their elected officials. Heartbeat helped motivate more than 400 people to attend the hearing wearing buttons that said, “I Love Pregnancy Resource Centers.” Here is an excerpt of one of her reports from the front line.

“God gave us some wonderful surprises during the hearings, the first being the unexpected testimony of Senator Joseph Zarelli, who gave an impassioned plea against the bill. The second was the closing testimony of a young woman, Kimberly Cole, who is a nurse, Lynwood City Council member, and Board member of Public Hospital District 2. She had a crisis pregnancy six years ago, and became a client of a center in the Seattle area. This young woman testified to how well she was treated and how much she was helped. A third blessing was the support of Senator Cheryl Pflug (who is also a nurse). She asked the other panel members if any of them were affiliated with Planned Parenthood and four of the six sheepishly raised their hands. They were exposed as “bogus clients” doing undercover work. They were not real clients, like ours were. Sen. Pflug exposed their bias. She also countered the testimony of a doctor on their panel who said there was absolutely no connection between abortion and breast cancer while angrily holding up the printout of a pregnancy center web page that said there was a link. This was to prove that we give out medically inaccurate information. Sen. Pflug went online during the hearings and googled a study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Univ. of Washington) that says abortion is a risk factor for abortion. Sen. Pflug pointed out that the study also says there are 19 other studies drawing the same conclusion.”

400 supporters of pregnancy centers came to the hearings. The room was packed and overflowing into the hallways. Our supporters far outnumbered the dozen or so Planned Parenthood supporters who wore pink T-shirts. This incredible turnout for the centers was instrumental in the Committee’s decision to table further action

When abortion lobbyists launch these insidious attacks, it takes people just like you, people with a passion for life working together to mobilize a strong defense.  We are counting on you to keep a vigilant watch for the political maneuverings of our opposition in your community.  Meanwhile, Heartbeat is encouraging PHCs in Washington and all around the county to embrace our proactive strategy of friend-raising in your state legislature similar to Heartbeat’s Babies Go to Congress, a program started in 2009 designed to give a forum on Capitol Hill to PHC clients who want to voice their gratitude.  The thankful heartfelt witness of a happy mom with her baby is the best testament to the incredible work of pregnancy help movement.