Should colleges be required to inform students about the rights and resources available to pregnant students?

Pregnant Students’ Rights Act (H.R. 6914)

This bill has Passed the House of Representatives

Bill Summary

H.R. 6914 would require U.S. colleges and universities to educate its students about the rights of pregnant students and inform them of resources for pregnant students and those planning on raising the child after birth. This bill does nothing to change existing protections for pregnant students under Title IX, it just requires universities to educate students about these protections and available resources. Sponsor: Rep. Ashley Hinson (Republican, Iowa, District 2)
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Opponents say

• "It’s pretty ironic that the Pregnant Students’ Right Act doesn’t provide any new rights for pregnant students. That is just an absolute shame, but I do worry that legislation that is slanted like this could lead to pressure to continue in pregnancy… I think the job of the educational institution should be to guarantee that right to an education regardless—not picking sides on what the students should be doing." Source: Jessica Lee, Lawyer and director of Pregnant Scholar

• "Pregnant students, and every woman across America, deserve the fundamental right to make choices about their own bodies. However, extreme Republicans want to keep women in the dark, so they continue pushing for laws that impose restrictions on these choices and create barriers for women seeking help from healthcare professionals,” said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), DWC Vice Chair and member of the Education and Workforce Committee. “This anti-abortion bill aims to give one-sided information, making informed decision-making more difficult and effectively restricting access to abortion. I firmly oppose this bill and any attempt to curtail a woman’s right to choose and give women full information about pregnancy and healthcare choices. We need to keep Congress out of our doctors’ offices, universities, and rural health clinics." Source: Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (Democrat, New Mexico, District 3)

• "The bill we debated in the Education and Workforce Committee today is unfortunately not a bill about protecting pregnant and parenting students or improving outcomes at all. As written, this legislation is just another thinly veiled attempt to further roll back the rights of women in this country and unduly pressure students into making serious health decisions—deeply personal health decisions—that are best left to women, their families, and their doctors… We should not leverage the very real needs of students and their children against the highly polarizing and personal topics of reproductive rights and abortion." Source: Rep. Lucy McBath (Democrat, Georgia, District 7)

Proponents say

• "It is unacceptable that pregnant women on college campuses are often told they have to choose between finishing their education and having their baby. Pregnant women should be informed of all resources available to continue their education while pregnant, never pressured into having an abortion. This legislation will empower young women to choose life and ensure they have access to support while they work to provide the best future for themselves and their child." Source: Rep. Ashley Hinson (Republican, Iowa, District 2), sponsor of the bill

• "Pregnant college students should never feel like abortion is their only option. This bill would empower more women to choose life by ensuring they are aware of all the resources available to them and their babies while pursuing their education. Every life is precious, and college campuses should never make young women feel marginalized for choosing life." Source: Sen. Marco Rubio (Republican, Florida)

• "I think we all understand the overwhelmingly liberal attitudes on most college campuses, but that should not mean pro-life services for students should be given the short shrift. Our bill is intended to ensure colleges and universities actively ensure pregnant students know their protections and rights other than abortion." Source: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican, Mississippi)

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