Pregnancy Help Programs Deserve Financial Support

Lansing, MI — Right to Life of Michigan supports HB 4189, which would increase funding in Michigan for promoting adoption, pregnancy help, and pregnancy resources for college students.

The $15 million total budget supplemental is supported by bill sponsor Rep. Mary Whiteford (R-Allegan County) and House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell).

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “The number one cause of abortion is fear—fears about how a pregnancy can change your life and future. There are already so many resources available, but we need to do more to make women aware of them.”

HB 4189 would allocate $10 million for promoting adoption as an alternative to abortion.

Listing said, “There are only a few hundred infant adoptions in Michigan every year, compared to more than 25,000 abortions. There’s always a long waiting list of parents willing to give everything to these children and give them a chance to live.”

$3 million would be allocated for maternal navigator pilot programs that provide counseling and connect women to other prenatal and postnatal services.

$1.5 million would be available as grants to pregnancy resource centers that provide alternatives to abortions.

Listing said, “Prolife pregnancy centers do great work in Michigan, and their work is seldom celebrated. They provide many resources for free, including counseling, clothing, formula, diapers, classes. Many are not well-funded and rely on volunteers to serve women and men facing crisis pregnancies.”

$500,000 would finally fund the Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act, which would help connect pregnant students on college campuses with resources so they can continue their education.

The Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act was signed into law by Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2004. It passed the Michigan House by a unanimous vote, including support from then State Representative Gretchen Whitmer. Governor Whitmer used her line-item veto to remove $150,000 to fund the Act from the 2020 Michigan budget.

Listing said, “We’ve had a lot of governors talk a great game about helping women, but none of them came through with putting this act into action. We can only hope this time Governor Whitmer sees the wisdom in this program, which she voted to create.”

For more information: Right to Life of Michigan Legislative Director Genevieve Marnon, (517) 487-3376, [email protected].

Background information:
House Bill 4189
Governor Whitmer veto of 2020 funding
Prolife pregnancy centers in Michigan

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