Defending Iowa’s Incredible Pregnancy Resource Centers

Pregnancy resource centers are a vital lifeline for women in need. These organizations provide valuable services at little to no cost to expecting mothers and young families, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, parenting education, counseling, free diapers, and other necessities. I truly appreciate the work that pregnancy resource centers do to support Iowa families, promote the health and wellbeing of newborns, and defend the unborn. Their mission is worthy and necessary.

On my 36 County Tour, I have toured pregnancy centers – in places like Sioux Center and Storm Lake – that offer exceptional care to expecting mothers and deliver the support that they deserve and the advice that they need during and after pregnancy. I am inspired by the incredible people who have committed their lives to uplifting families and advancing a culture of life in Iowa.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, President Biden is actively working to defund pregnancy resource centers by depriving them of their fair share of funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and redirecting those dollars to pro-abortion facilities that comply with his abortion-on-demand agenda. This proposed rule by the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services would be catastrophic for our pregnancy resource centers in rural Iowa and for vulnerable women who have nowhere else to turn for maternal and prenatal care. Not to mention that, annually, pregnancy centers nationwide receive roughly $60 million to just keep their doors open while Planned Parenthood receives – both directly and indirectly – nearly $530 million from hardworking taxpayers to encourage women to choose abortions over life.

As a father of four, this issue is deeply personal to me. Last year, I received my doctorate in healthcare administration with a specific focus on maternal health outcomes, and I can confidently say that we need to support pregnancy centers in rural communities; not force them to close their doors.

Right now, in Iowa, many women have to travel anywhere between 60 and 100 miles for routine checkups and specialized maternal care because of our severe maternity healthcare deserts. As a result, infant and maternal mortality rates have dramatically increased, particularly in rural communities. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the maternal mortality rate in Iowa increased from 10 in every 100,000 births to 22 between 1999 and 2019. Similarly, Iowa’s infant mortality rate increased by 30% – from 3.99 to 5.20 per 1,000 live births – in 2022. These trends cannot continue, and closing pregnancy resource centers would only exacerbate this devastating crisis.

Naturally, President Biden is tone deaf. Instead of delivering outstanding maternal healthcare for pregnant women and addressing our alarming maternal and infant mortality rates in rural communities, the Biden administration would rather steer taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood and other organizations that promote the Democrats’ abortion-on-demand agenda. It’s shameful.

That’s why I proudly voted for the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, which would stop deliberate attempts by the Biden administration to prohibit TANF funds from supporting pregnancy centers. These centers are not only a safe haven for vulnerable women, but also valuable support networks dedicated to helping new mothers navigate the challenges of pregnancy and costs of parenting.

As a father of four and a Christian, I believe that God created every person for a purpose and a reason to further His kingdom and that every life is worth protecting. Pregnancy resource centers share these values and live up to God’s word to advocate for the most vulnerable among us and protect His greatest gift – life.

I’m proud to stand with our pregnancy centers, support expecting mothers, help young families, and protect innocent life. While it can be a lonely endeavor in our nation’s capital, I believe that is one worth fighting for.

This op-ed was originally published in the Carroll Times Herald on February 1, 2024.