PROVIDENCE — U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin supports a bill that would provide programs to reduce the number of abortions, assist women to bear healthy children and support new parents.
The Pregnant Women Support Act (PWSA) would require abortion providers to offer women the voluntary option of receiving pre-abortion counseling to learn of the risks associated with abortion.
It has been introduced in the House of Representatives under number H.R. 2035, has 31 co-sponsors and has bipartisan support, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Joy Fox, Langevin's communications director, said the Pregnant Women Support Act is now under review before various committees in the House of Representatives.
"Congressman Langevin is supportive of the provisions in it (PWSA), and hopefully the bill appears on the House floor sooner than later," said Fox during a phone interview on June 3 from Langevin's District 2 Warwick office.
Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, expressed concern that some representatives on the far-left and far-right of the abortion issue could be obstacles to the bill's passage during a phone interview from her Washington office on June 3.
Day's essay from the May 22 edition of Newsday over her concerns were detailed in a June 2 online article by Catholic News Agency (catholicnewsagency.com.)
"I think this bill has a middle ground, but some people think reducing the abortion rate is not the answer, because it would end all abortions," said Day during an interview with the Rhode Island Catholic.
Day stressed the Pregnant Women Support Act would provide programs to reduce the need for abortions. She said she is concerned the fight to limit abortions could last a while. "Some groups don't want to solve the problems of abortion, and want to keep this political football going," said Day.
Meanwhile, she lauded Congressman Langevin for his support in the battle to end abortion. "He's been good to work with. When I first met him I thought I was the only pro-life Democrat," said Day.
Day said she met Langevin, a 1983 Bishop Hendricken graduate, when he was elected to Congress in 2000.
Richard Doerflinger, associate director of pro-life activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said "I hope Congressman Langevin will sponsor the new bill." Doerflinger said Langevin was a co-sponsor of a previous similar bill, and the bishops' Conference hasn't reached him yet on becoming a sponsor for the current amended version in the House.
The bishops' Conference is an advocate of the Pregnant Women Support Act.
The Conference has stated that poverty is the leading cause for more than one million abortions each year.
Financing for programs such as child care for low-income parents, improving adoption assistance, ensuring health care for pregnant women and newborns and providing mothers with free home visits by registered nurses would be provided in the Pregnant Women Support Act, according to the Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"I think this bill can pass this year. There are 31 sponsors, which include pro-life Republicans and Democrats and some members of Congress who are pro-choice. This bill responds to the challenge on finding common ground on abortion that President Barack Obama mentioned in his Notre Dame speech," said Doerflinger, during a phone interview from his Washington office last Thursday morning.
