FC Urges: Don’t Deny Funding to Pregnancy Resource Centers

By Jerry Cox, President • Family Council

Family Council (FC) submitted public comments to the federal government opposing a federal rule change that would prevent pro-life pregnancy resource centers from receiving federal funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Under TANF, states receive blocks of federal tax dollars they can award to organizations and programs that:

• Assist needy families so children may be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives,

• End the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work and marriage;

• Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies;

• Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families; and

Currently, some states award TANF funds to pregnancy resource centers and similar organizations because these organizations help meet some or all of TANF’s purposes. However, in October, the Biden Administration quietly rolled out a rule change that could stop states from giving these federal funds to pregnancy centers.

Family Council submitted formal comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families opposing the rule change and urging the Biden Administration not to make blanket policies excluding pregnancy resource centers from the TANF program.

As Family Council’s official comments note, the federal government is trying to withhold funding from these good organizations simply because they help women after they become pregnant rather than focusing on pregnancy prevention. The truth is many pregnancy resource centers provide everything from ultrasounds and pregnancy tests to maternity clothes, diapers and formula — typically free of charge. There is no doubt these organizations provide actual, measurable assistance to women, children and families. The rule change would make it more difficult for these families to find and receive assistance in their communities. It’s ridiculous for the Biden Administration to rewrite its rules to exclude these good organizations from the TANF program.