Congressman Dan Goldman, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Introduce Abortion Care Awareness Act to Combat Anti-Abortion Misinformation
The ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act’ Would Ensure Women Nationwide Have Access to Accurate Information About Abortion Services and Where to Obtain Them
Bill Will Reduce the Harm of Anti-Abortion Centers Masquerading as Health Care Providers, Ensure Women Can Spot Misinformation Campaigns
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) today introduced the ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act,’ to increase access to medically accurate information about abortion, specifically medication abortion. This legislation would ensure people have access to accurate information about where and how to obtain abortion services across the country, how to avoid anti-abortion centers intended to deceive patients, and how to identify misinformation about abortion care.
Crisis pregnancy centers market themselves as abortion clinics or comprehensive reproductive health care providers to women in vulnerable and emotionally fragile positions, intentionally targeting low-income communities and communities of color. Once under their care, these centers use aggressive rhetoric and manipulative means to coerce them into carrying their pregnancies to full term, jeopardizing their health, well-being, and trust in health care providers.
“The flood of anti-abortion disinformation shared by crisis pregnancy centers poses a direct danger to women seeking reproductive health care across the country,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “These disinformation centers use fear, lies and manipulation to prey on vulnerable women – oftentimes in low-income communities and communities of color – to dissuade them from seeking abortion care and services. Enough is enough. It is past time for the federal government to ensure that everyone seeking reproductive health care has access to accurate information, so no one is taken advantage of again.”
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said, “From New York to my home of Texas, women seeking abortion care are being inundated with lies, misinformation, and fear tactics promoted by far-right extremist organizations. With the U.S. Supreme Court deciding whether women will be able to access medication abortion, it is more critical than ever that our federal government use its authorities and resources to combat this propaganda. We must help women and families seeking access to life-saving reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, and help ensure they receive accurate information and resources to make informed medical decisions. Fear and confusion are the most powerful tools used by forced birth extremists. The Abortion Care Awareness Act would shine a light through the darkness and help women find their way to the healthcare they need and deserve.”
The Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney said, “Every person in the United States should be able to access accurate information on where and how to obtain abortion care. Republican-led states continue to impose draconian bans that are forcing women to travel long distances to seek abortion care and leading to the spread of abortion misinformation intended to deceive patients. All while Congressional Republicans continue to make clear they want more than state bans: a national restriction on abortion that will put healthcare professionals in jail just for doing their jobs. The Abortion Care Awareness Act will help ensure that every American can access accurate, comprehensive information to make decisions about the health and economic security of themselves and their families, while pushing back against the disinformation peddled by crisis pregnancy centers.”
Karen Stone, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations for Planned Parenthood Federation of America said, “At a time when anti-abortion lawmakers and groups are peddling disinformation to create chaos and confusion, we need to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to medically accurate information, including how to make informed health care decisions for themselves, information on medication abortion, and how to get the care they need. We are grateful to Reps. Crockett and Goldman for bringing forward this timely piece of legislation to expand educational resources on abortion care.”
Doctor Jamila Perritt, President and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health said, “We are currently navigating a world where tragically, because of political attacks on abortion and the pervasiveness of abortion stigma, misinformation and disinformation about abortion care is widespread. I am grateful to see legislation aiming to combat the harm this misinformation causes. People deserve to have accurate and comprehensive information about all of their health care options to make decisions for their own lives.”
The ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act’ amends the 'Public Health Service Act' by requiring the Secretary to carry out a coordinated, focused, national public health education, awareness, and outreach campaign including:
Where and how to access abortion, including medication abortion, and related health services based on State and Federal laws
How to differentiate between anti-abortion centers or “crisis pregnancy centers” from facilities that actually provide abortion and related health services
How to identify misinformation regarding abortion and related health services
The information campaign would be designed in coordination with licensed health care professionals who are experts in sexual and reproductive health, non-profit organizations whose missions are focused on expanding reproductive rights, state and local health departments, and non-profit institutions of higher education. It will also be designed to ensure cultural competency, efficacy, and accessibility for and within underserved communities. These communities include communities of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency.
According to the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map, led by Dr. Andrea Swartzendruber and Dr. Danielle Lambert, of the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, there are 13 crisis pregnancy centers in New York City alone. In fact, there are more crisis pregnancy centers in New York City than there are Planned Parenthood locations (5).
The ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act’ has been endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Reproductive Freedom for All (Formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to protecting abortion access across the country and combatting abortion misinformation.
Earlier this month, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act’ to stop crisis pregnancy centers organizations from using deceptive advertisements claiming to offer reproductive health care. The SAD Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission to prohibit unfair or deceptive advertising related to the provisions of abortion services and authorize the FTC to enforce these rules and collect penalties from organizations in violation.
Additionally, Congressman Goldman hosted a virtual roundtable with representatives from New York State, New York City, and leading reproductive freedom organizations to discuss options for women seeking reproductive health care, New York’s status as a safe haven for abortion care and services, and how New York can continue to lead nationally in protecting reproductive freedoms. The discussion also centered on how the reproductive health care landscape may shift due to the upcoming Supreme Court case, FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.
In March of 2023, the Congressman cosponsored the ‘Women’s Health Protection Act,’ which establishes a federal right for healthcare professionals to provide abortion care and the right for their patients to receive care, free from bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that single out abortion care. The ‘Women’s Health Protection Act’ codifies and expands upon the rights established in Roe v. Wade.
Congressman Goldman is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus.
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