Warren, Bonamici Renew Fight Against Misinformation in Pregnancy Care
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) reintroduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act, to crack down on attempts by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to deceive and misinform women seeking reproductive health care.
Senators Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto, (D-Nev.), Richard Durbin, (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined as co-sponsors.
CPCs routinely rely on deceptive advertising practices to trick pregnant women into thinking they offer comprehensive reproductive health care, only to discourage them from getting abortions. These deceptive tactics include making false claims about reproductive health care and lying about the risks of receiving an abortion or using certain forms of contraception. CPCs, which are generally not Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-covered entities, have been found to falsely claim to be HIPPA-compliant in order to collect women’s sensitive health information and in some cases even disclose that data to law enforcement.
Nationwide, false advertising by CPCs is preventing women from getting the reproductive health care they need. The SAD Act would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prescribe rules prohibiting disinformation in the advertising of abortion services. It would also give the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules and collect penalties from organizations, including CPCs, that violate these rules.
Senator Warren and Representative Bonamici first introduced this bill in the 117th Congress.
“Fighting back against misinformation and deceptive practices is an important tool to protect access to safe and reliable reproductive care. Reproductive rights are under attack in our country. This bill will help us push back against crisis pregnancy centers’ attempts to undermine a woman’s right to choose,” said Senator Warren.
“Crisis pregnancy centers further their own anti-choice agenda by taking advantage of people seeking reproductive care,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Tragically, when CPCs provide false and misleading information about abortion and contraception, patients do not get necessary medical care. The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act will put an end to these unfair and deceptive practices so pregnant Americans can access comprehensive, science-based reproductive care.”
“Crisis pregnancy centers rely on predatory practices to spread deceptive, misleading information and dissuade patients from receiving necessary health care. Patients deserve objective medical guidance from professionals—not inaccurate, stigmatizing, and even life-threatening information. The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act stops these centers from interfering with patient care and ensures that patients are receiving all of the information they need to make the best decisions for their health,” said Senator Blumenthal.
“It is critical that patients seeking reproductive care are given accurate medical advice from a trusted doctor, and not preyed on with misinformation from anti-abortion organizations posing as ‘crisis pregnancy centers,’” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will protect women seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care, from fraudulent clinics and predatory lies.”
“When women seek reproductive health care, they should be able to trust that their provider is offering comprehensive, factual information. Efforts by crisis pregnancy centers, many of which use half-truths and false advertising to mislead women about their options, undermine the reproductive rights of women,” said Senator Durbin. “I’m joining Senator Warren and Congresswoman Maloney to crack down on the deceptive practices of crisis pregnancy centers.”
“Women who need reproductive care need certified, comprehensive health care providers with medical expertise to ensure they can make an informed decision about their health care,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Crisis pregnancy centers intentionally confuse vulnerable women in a way that can put their health in danger.”
“As Republicans cut away at access to reproductive care and amplify health disinformation, it is more important than ever to demand the truth. The Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act is crucial for stopping peddlers of mis-and-disinformation in their tracks, so they do not continue to mislead, lie, and scare people from getting the care they need. Abortion care is health care, and every American should be able to access this care safely,” said Senator Markey.
“MAGA Republicans are on a crusade to destroy reproductive rights nationwide by spewing misinformation and pushing deceptive practices that undermine access to vital reproductive services,” said Senator Merkley. “We need to get politicians and pundits out of the exam room. Our bill ensures that crisis pregnancy centers across the country will not be able to mislead or lie to Americans seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care.”
“So-called ‘crisis pregnancy centers,’ propped up by anti-choice extremists, are notorious for misleading women about the services they provide and lying to them about their options for evidence-based reproductive health care. CPCs have also been known to deliberately deceive women into thinking their private health information is protected when it’s not, since they aren’t bound by HIPAA like real health care providers,” said Senator Murray. “As Republican state legislatures continue to funnel taxpayer money to these unaccountable anti-abortion centers, it’s more important than ever that Congress cracks down on their deceptive practices--that’s what this legislation is about.”
“With reproductive rights constantly under threat, it's vital that people can access reliable and trustworthy abortion care. These people are preying on pregnant women with misinformation and blatant lies about abortion. It’s wrong, and it's why Vermont passed legislation to hold them accountable for their lies,” said Senator Welch. “Our bicameral legislation follows Vermont’s lead and requires accountability for engaging in deceptive practices that undermine reproductive rights.”
“In a post-Roe world, it’s more important than ever that women everywhere have accurate information on which to base their reproductive care decisions,” Senator Wyden said. “Deceptive ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ target vulnerable patients who are looking for medical providers they can trust with their health, safety, and wellbeing and, instead, intercept them with false, harmful misinformation. ‘Crisis pregnancy centers’ must be stopped.
“The unchecked spread of disinformation about reproductive health continues to endanger patients. This must end.
This bill will help stop crisis pregnancy centers from spreading deceptive advertising about abortion, and work to guarantee that everyone can get the accurate information and quality care they need and deserve. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is grateful to Sen. Warren and Reps. Bonamici and Sykes for re-introducing the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act and for their continued leadership in the fight to protect sexual and reproductive health care and rights. It’s time to end the manipulative tactics of these fake clinics so that all patients can control their own bodies, lives, and futures,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
As a practicing OBGYN, I know firsthand how important it is that pregnant people have access to accurate information so that they can make important decisions about their care and lives without bias, stigma or shame,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Power to Decide CEO and practicing OB-GYN. "We urge Congress to pass the ‘SAD Act’ so that every person has access to medically accurate information and the power to decide their reproductive futures.
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