House passes Hinson bill protecting rights of pregnant students

The Republican-controlled U.S. House passed two bills this week seeking to support women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy.

House lawmakers Thursday passed the Pregnant Students Rights Act, led by Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion, on a 212-207 vote with only Republican support.

The bill mandates that colleges advise pregnant students of the protections and options available to them to continue their education while pregnant, including flexible class schedules, excused absences for doctors appointments and child care assistance. It also directs colleges to advise students of campus and community resources to support their pregnancy, and how pregnant and parents students can report discrimination under Title IX, the federal law that bars sex-based discrimination.

Democrats opposed the bill, arguing its aim is to advance a Republican agenda to further restrict access to abortion. The bill is backed by groups opposed to abortion rights, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life, that worry pregnant college students can feel pressured into having an abortion to avoid academic failure.

Critics also argue the legislation doesn’t go far enough to address the most pressing needs that students who are pregnant or parenting face, such as on-campus child care.

The bill states “a significant proportion of abortions in the United States are performed on women of college age who may be unaware of their rights to accommodation and prohibitions against discrimination due to pregnancy” under federal law. It states that women on campuses “may fear institutional reprisal, loss of athletic scholarship, and possible negative impact on academic opportunities.”

As a result of their isolation, pregnant students might also suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges, Hinson said on the House floor.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the federally protected right to an abortion has put renewed attention on students who are pregnant or parenting. Almost 30 percent of all abortions in the United States are performed on women between 20 and 24, according to a 2021 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“When Roe v. Wade was rightfully overturned last year, the next chapter of the pro-life movement began, and we were all given the opportunity to strengthen our support for unborn babies and new moms,” Hinson said. “As a mom of two, this issue is personal to me.”

From doctors’ appointments to new financial responsibilities, pregnant students have a lot on their plate as they work to balance school and having a healthy pregnancy, she said. “Unfortunately, many pregnant women on college campuses are pressured into having an abortion and told they must choose between having their baby and continuing their education, despite Title IX protections,” Hinson said.

The Biden administration has proposed expanded protections for pregnant students as part of its overhaul of ​​Title IX at federally funded institutions, according to reporting by Inside Higher Ed. The new protections would include outlining the type of accommodations students are entitled to and improving access to medical leave.

House Republicans on Thursday also passed the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. The legislation prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from imposing restrictions that would limit Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding for pregnancy resource centers that counsel against abortion.

In 2019, 2,700 pregnancy centers provided services and support to 2 million people, including pregnant women, parents, couples and families, House Republicans said.

The Biden administration has said the bill would divert federal funds from “effective supports for pregnant and parenting women and families.” The White House has said it would prevent Health and Human Services from ensuring the funds are being used for their intended purposes. “The Administration remains committed to supporting the economic security, health, and well-being of women and families across the country,” according to a statement from the White House.

Abortion rights advocates argue the centers do not offer women a full range of health care and lack meaningful state or federal medical oversight.

Republicans argue pregnancy resource centers meet those purposes by providing material support and services to women in need so that children can be cared for in their own home and by reducing dependence on government assistance.

Hinson called the bill “a step in the right direction to creating a culture of life in our society, and a step we must take, as we continue to pursue policies that help families grow and thrive.“ Iowa’s other Republican U.S. House members — Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Randy Feenstra and Zach Nunn — also voted for the two bills.

Miller-Meeks posted a video to X, formerly Twitter, welcoming the thousands of anti-abortion rights activists gathered Friday in Washington for the March for Life rally.

“As a doctor, I believe that every life is precious and should be protected,” Miller-Meeks said in the video. “And I will continue supporting the pro-life legislation that I’ve done before in the past. And I also as a woman and as a mother fully support educating women, giving them the tools that they need to prevent pregnancy, because we know the best way to prevent abortion is to prevent unplanned pregnancy.”

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She sponsored legislation aimed at expanding access to contraception. Critics say it would have little effect and is meant to distract from her stances against abortion rights.

Hinson and Miller-Meeks, who represent portions of Eastern Iowa, are running for re-election against Democratic challengers who have sought to highlight the incumbents’ record against abortion rights, including support of a nationwide abortion ban.

The campaign arm of House Democrats has also targeted Miller-Meeks, seen as a vulnerable Republican running in a competitive district. A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman issued a statement calling out Miller-Meeks vote in support the legislation, claiming the bills “chip away at women’s constitutional freedoms and attempt to deny them access to essential reproductive health care.”

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