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Abortion

Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act Introduced to Crack Down on Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congresswomen Carolyn B. Maloney and Suzanne Bonamici, along with Senator Bob Menendez, introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act to combat deceptive advertising tactics employed by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). These centers deliberately mislead patients about reproductive health care, including abortion care, and often provide inaccurate or misleading information. The bill aims to prohibit false advertising and ensure that patients receive accurate and complete information about their health care options.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act targets crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) that employ deceptive advertising tactics to dissuade patients from getting reproductive care, including abortion care.
  • CPCs, numbering over 2,500 in the United States, often use false claims about reproductive health care and disseminate inaccurate information about abortion and contraception.
  • The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue rules prohibiting deceptive or misleading advertising related to the provision of abortion services.
  • The legislation provides the FTC with the authority to enforce these rules and collect penalties from organizations in violation.
  • The bill is supported by 25 organizations, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  • The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act is cosponsored by 15 Senators and 43 Representatives.
  • CPCs are often run by anti-abortion organizations and have no certified medical staff, providing no abortion care or birth control services.
  • The vast majority of CPCs are located in communities where it is already difficult to access abortion or other essential health care.

Statistics:

  • There are over 2,500 CPCs in the United States, with some estimates suggesting the number may be closer to 4,000 (Journal of Medical Internet Research).
  • CPCs outnumber abortion clinics nationwide by an average of 3:1, with some states experiencing a ratio as high as 11:1.
  • A study found that CPCs provide no prenatal testing and have no medical professionals on staff.

Sources:

  • Elizabeth Warren's statement, no date
  • Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, Power to Decide CEO
  • Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • Jamie L. Manson, Catholics for Choice
  • Sheila Katz, CEO National Council of Jewish Women
  • Yvonne Hsu, Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer at the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
  • Rev. Katey Zeh, CEO of Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • NARAL Pro-Choice America
  • Center for Reproductive Rights
  • Advocates for Youth
  • American Atheists
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • American Public Health Association
  • American Society for Reproductive Medicine
  • Black Mamas Matter Alliance
  • Brooklyn for Reproductive and Gender Equity
  • Catholics for Choice
  • Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
  • Families USA
  • Feminist Majority Foundation
  • Guttmacher Institute
  • In Your Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda
  • Jewish Women International
  • Medical Students for Choice
  • MomsRising
  • National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
  • National Birth Equity Collaborative
  • National Council of Jewish Women
  • National Council of Jewish Women – New York
  • National Council of Jewish Women – Greater Miami
  • National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
  • National Health Law Program
  • National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
  • National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund
  • National Organization for Women
  • National Partnership for Women and Families
  • National Women's Health Network
  • Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health
  • Physicians for Reproductive Health
  • Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts
  • Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
  • Population Institute
  • Power to Decide
  • Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
  • Reproductive Equity Now
  • Sexuality Information Education Council of the U.S.
  • SisterReach
  • United for Reproductive and Gender Equity

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