By: Johnston Moore, AFL Adoption/Orphan Care Consultant
In a recent article entitled, “Providing or Depriving Women of Resources,” from the Life Issues Institute, Bradley Mattes discusses recent legislation from various states and highlights how some states are working hard to provide much-needed resources for women and children, while other states deprive them.
On the federal level, according to Mattes, President Biden “eliminated assistance for America’s women and their babies, particularly those who are most desperate.” He goes on to explain that President Biden’s denial of Medicaid expansion for poor, new moms in Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee (with Idaho possibly in the future), is due to those states not referring women for abortion. Mattes reports Biden’s actions are negatively impacting tens of thousands of women.
On the state level, Mattes reports that governors in Arizona, Kansas, and North Carolina have all cut or vetoed spending aimed at helping vulnerable women and children.
In Arizona, Governor Hobbs cut funding for homeless pregnant women.
In Kansas, Governor Kelly vetoed legislation that would have provided assistance to women who choose life or want to make a plan of adoption for their children. She also vetoed legislation that would have provided tax credits to support pregnancy centers that offer free resources to women, as well as tax credits for families who are adopting, and for purchases from businesses that employ people with special needs.
Thankfully, the pro-life majority legislature overrode the governor’s veto of funding for resources for women through pregnancy centers, and also overrode the veto of a bill that provides women with information about reversal of the abortion pill.
Similarly, in North Carolina, the pro-life legislature overrode Governor Cooper’s veto of the Care for Women, Children and Families Act which, among other things, expands access to childcare, funds foster and kinship care, as well as children’s homes, provides maternity and paternity leave for teachers, helps reduce infant and maternal mortality, and helps moms and dads complete community college.
Mattes goes on to talk about recent positive developments in other states, including Texas, where the legislature approved nearly a quarter of a billion dollars to help mothers and their babies before and after birth. The legislature also negated President Biden’s funding cut by extending Medicaid for new moms for up to one year after the birth of their babies.
In West Virginia, Governor Justice signed a law that created a one million dollar fund to help women through pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and more.
In Tennessee, Governor Lee signed a law to help parents facing an unplanned pregnancy with healthcare and other support. The law also expands services for children in foster care, as well as children with special needs.
In Arkansas, a bill was recently passed (unanimously!) that provides money for pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and support for women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Lastly, in Mississippi, Mattes reports that several new, life-affirming bills were recently signed by Governor Reeves. These bills help families, moms, and children in so many ways, including establishing tax credits for adoption, creating more transparency for foster parents, creating a website with information and resources for pregnant women, expanding tax credits for donations to pregnancy centers, and more.
At Anglicans For Life, we applaud, and thank God for policymakers who are committed to affirming the sanctity of life and supporting it, both in the womb, and after birth, and we pray for those who work against families, mothers, and babies, that they might come to know that all life is sacred and is worthy of protection.
