Arkansas Allocates $2 Million to Support Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
In a move that underscores the growing trend of state funding for pro-life initiatives, Arkansas has dedicated $2 million to pro-life pregnancy centers. This comes as part of a broader legislative package signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, aimed at supporting organizations that encourage alternatives to abortion.
House Bill 1202, signed into law by Gov. Sanders, passed unanimously in both the Arkansas House of Representatives and the state Senate, both controlled by Republicans. The legislation, which covers various fiscal appropriations for 2025-26, includes a specific allocation for “pregnancy help organization grants.”
According to the legislation, a “pregnancy help organization” is defined as a nonprofit entity offering services to individuals dealing with unintended pregnancies, with the broad goal of encouraging childbirth over abortion. Eligible organizations include crisis pregnancy centers, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and other social service agencies providing prenatal, healthcare, and nutritional services.
The bill specifically excludes any organization that offers or refers for surgical or chemical abortions from receiving these grants.
The Arkansas Family Council notes that this isn’t the state’s first instance of funding pregnancy centers, with annual grants supporting numerous charities that aid women and children in Arkansas since 2022. The advocacy group stated, “Since 2022, Family Council has worked with the Arkansas Legislature and the governor to secure funding every year for pregnancy resource centers.”
Arkansas joins other states like Kansas and West Virginia in financing crisis pregnancy centers, reflecting a shift in the pro-life movement towards providing tangible support for families post-Dobbs v. Jackson decision. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, which declared that the Constitution does not guarantee a right to abortion, has spurred both public and private investment in pro-life initiatives.
However, this financial backing for crisis pregnancy centers has not been without controversy. Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, have expressed opposition at both state and federal levels. Furthermore, following the leaked Dobbs decision in 2022, some pro-life centers faced vandalism and attacks.
Despite these challenges, a 2023 report from the Charlotte Lozier Institute highlighted the impact of these centers, revealing that 2,750 pro-life pregnancy centers across the country provided over $350 million in goods and services to expectant mothers in 2022.
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This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
