U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Supports Groundbreaking Legislation Aimed at Reducing the Need for Abortion

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) today announced support of legislation that will offer common ground policy solutions that reduce the need for abortion by addressing its root causes. The Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act has two policy tracks which include: preventing unintended pregnancies and supporting pregnant women and new families, including families created through adoption.

"Florida has been ranked in the top 10 of states with the highest rates of teenage abortion. It is my hope that with this bill we can help lower that number and ensure all young women are provided age-appropriate, factually and medically accurate and complete contraceptive information," said Congressman Meek. "Indeed, abortion is one of the most divisive debates in our nation—but, it is important that we have now found a common ground, and can begin to move beyond the legality debate and move toward a common purpose of reducing the need for abortion."

The bill will work to expand pregnancy prevention education through grants for after-school programs, pregnancy prevention incentives, initiatives to enlist parental involvement, and education supports that use creative effective approaches to pregnancy prevention. It aims to reduce the prevalence of abortion by addressing: unintended pregnancies and the lack of resources and help for women who become pregnant. Each year, roughly 1.2 million women undergo an abortion and approximately one out of every five pregnancies end in abortion. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended and about 60 percent of abortions include women with incomes at 200 percent or below of the poverty line.

Moreover, the bill will also provide support to those women who choose to carry out their pregnancies, as well as expand access to Medicaid and CHIP coverage for mothers and children, increase support for pregnant and parenting students, increase WIC and other services for children and mothers, and increase the adoption tax credit.

"Title X has been the sole federal program devoted to family planning and is the program through which the federal government sets overall policy regarding family planning. I have voted against amendments that sought to restrict this access, and I am pleased that this bill will restore family planning to the status of mandatory for benchmark plans under the Medicaid program," added Rep. Meek.

In addition, the bill will amend the Medicaid statute to ensure that states extend coverage for family planning services and supplies to women up to 133 percent of the poverty line. These are women who would be entitled to Medicaid funded prenatal, labor, delivery and postpartum care, but have previously not been given access to contraceptives and family planning mechanisms.

"The bill enjoys support from religious groups, pro-choice and pro-life advocates, including; NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Third Way, National Partnership for Women & Families, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Catholics for Choice, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, United Church of Christ, and the General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist Church."

 

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Florida Democrat sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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