Bonamici, Sykes, Menendez, Warren Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Anti-Abortion Disinformation by Crisis Pregnancy Centers
WASHINGTON, DC [04/20/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes (D-OH) and Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act to stop crisis pregnancy centers from spreading deceptive advertising about abortion care.
Many crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) falsely and deliberately advertise themselves as comprehensive reproductive health care providers. To discourage their clients from having abortions, they routinely disseminate inaccurate information about abortion and contraception. The SAD Act directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit unfair or deceptive advertising related to the provision of abortion services and authorizes the FTC to enforce these rules and collect penalties from organizations in violation.
“Each year thousands of Americans - often desperate and distressed - walk into the doors of crisis pregnancy centers expecting to receive accurate and comprehensive reproductive health care from a qualified health professional, only to be offered disinformation from people with an anti-choice agenda,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “At a time when abortion care is under attack, patients need to know they can trust their providers. The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act will finally put an end to the deceptive advertising crisis pregnancy centers use to trick people into visiting their so-called clinics and stop the deceptive information these centers spread once people are inside.”
“All Americans deserve comprehensive, accurate, unbiased information from qualified medical professionals when making decisions about their reproductive health. But too often, people go to crisis pregnancy centers expecting a certain level of care due to their misleading name only to find they can’t get the medical attention they need,” said Rep. Sykes. “These centers purposefully use deceptive, aggressive, and coercive tactics to target vulnerable individuals, including low-income and minority communities. The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act would save lives in Ohio’s 13th District and across the country by stopping the spread of dangerous misinformation that fuels high maternal and infant mortality rates. As access to reproductive health is restricted and attacked across the country, this legislation will ensure Americans have the freedom to make informed healthcare decisions that are best for them.”
“Reproductive rights remain under a coordinated assault by Republicans across the nation including the latest attempts to ban medication abortion, which is why it is so critical that we preserve access to trusted information and comprehensive reproductive health care services,” said Sen. Menendez. “Our bicameral SAD Act, will direct the FTC to prohibit deceptive and misleading advertisements about abortion services by crisis pregnancy centers that jeopardize women’s health and well-being. It is time to crack down on these centers, stop their harmful and misleading tactics, and finally hold them accountable for their actions.”
“Today in Massachusetts, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber legitimate abortion clinics three to one,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “With Roe overturned and access to mifepristone under attack, it’s more important than ever that we combat misinformation and put a stop to these centers’ deceptive practices, ensuring that patients get the health care and reproductive services that they need.”
The legislation is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, American Public Health Association, Guttmacher Institute, Power to Decide, National Women’s Law Center, National Birth Equity Collaborative, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Health Network, Medical Students for Choice, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Health Law Program (NHeLP), IPAS Partners for Reproductive Justice, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Council of Jewish Women, Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, Catholics for Choice, American Atheists, and National Council of Jewish Women New York.
“Everybody deserves to have access to accurate, comprehensive, and unbiased medical information to make personal decisions about their health and bodies,” said NARAL Pro-Choice America President Mini Timmaraju. “NARAL applauds Rep. Bonamici and Sen. Menendez’s leadership on the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act, which would help put an end to false advertising from fake health centers that intentionally lie to, shame, and mislead pregnant people seeking an abortion in order to block them from accessing care. As we continue to face an abortion rights and access crisis, now is the time to fight for our freedom to access care and ensure that health information is accurate and unbiased.”
“Anti-abortion facilities cause chaos and confusion by using disinformation to mislead and deter people from getting the basic health care services they need and deserve,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Everyone should have medically accurate and unbiased information about their health care options. Thank you to Representatives Bonamici and Sykes and Senators Warren and Menendez for fighting against dangerous disinformation at a time when abortion access is under unprecedented attack.”
In the House, the legislation is co-sponsored by Lori Trahan (MA-3), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7), Dina Titus (NV-1), Mark Takano (CA-39), Katie Porter (CA-47), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Summer Lee (PA-12), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Annie Kuster (NH-02), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Gerald Connolly (VA-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04). Lois Frankel (FL-21), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Alma Adams (NC-12), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jared Huffman (CA-2), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Colin Allred (TX-32), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04).
In the Senate, the legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley, Dianne Feinstein, Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, Richard Blumenthal, Mark R. Warner, Mazie Hirono, Ron Wyden, Cory Booker, Ed Markey, Patty Murray, and Catherine Cortez Masto.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
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