July 17, 2024
There have been far too many news headlines in America about women being coerced or tricked into aborting their child.
Now, Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee is introducing federal legislation that will help combat this issue. The new bill, entitled the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2024, would protect not only the preborn but also women who decide to go through surrogacy, ensuring they are not forced to kill the child in their womb if the baby is unwanted.
Here’s what you need to know about the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2024 which Students for Life Action (SFLAction) strongly supports.
What’s at Stake:
There are too many stories of women being forced to abort the child they’re carrying because of unethical surrogacy contracts or when the parents decide they no longer interested in parenting. There have been numerous documented instances of this disgraceful phenomenon:
- A surrogate was offered $10,000 to abort her baby after the ultrasound showed the baby had serious health concerns.
- Another surrogate mom refused to get an abortion despite pressure from the parents who were worried about the COVID-19 virus.
- Another surrogate was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to abort the child she was carrying.
In fact, there have been numerous studies conducted showing women who face pressure to undergo an abortion face much worse mental and emotional health outcomes.
Another study from the Charlotte Lozier Institute shows that nearly 70% of abortions are coerced and that “60% would have preferred to give birth if they had received either more emotional support or had more financial security.”
What The Legislation Does:
If passed and signed into law the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2024 would prevent federal courts from enforcing surrogacy contract clauses that require women to get abortions if they do not want to.
The law would also ensure the child’s parents are required to pay the surrogate any compensation promised, even if she refuses to get an abortion at their request.
To learn more about other legislation moving through Congress that SFLAction supports, CLICK HERE.