Crockett, Goldman Introduce Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2024 to Combat Anti-Abortion Misinformation

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) and Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the "Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2024," legislation that would increase access to medically accurate information about abortion, medication abortion, and abortion-related health services. Specifically, this legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a coordinated national public health education, awareness, and outreach campaign to provide accurate information regarding where and how to access abortion care, the right to travel across state lines and utilize telemedicine to access abortion care, how to identify misinformation about abortion, how to avoid so-called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers" that promote anti-abortion propaganda intended to deceive patients, and more. This bill is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL), and Physicians for Reproductive Rights. Read the bill here.

This bill comes at a time where states and local governments have enacted patch-work anti-abortion legislation leaving millions of women without reproductive care, and thus relying on information made available to them through non-profit organizations or “health” centered entities. Many crisis pregnancy centers market themselves as abortion clinics or comprehensive reproductive health care providers to women in vulnerable and emotionally fragile positions, often intentionally targeting low-income communities and communities of color. Once under their care, these centers use aggressive rhetoric and manipulative tactics to coerce them into carrying their pregnancies to full term, jeopardizing their health, well-being, and trust in health care providers.

“From New York to my home of Texas, women seeking abortion care are being inundated with lies, misinformation, and fear tactics promoted by far-right extremist organizations,” said Rep. Crockett. “With the U.S. Supreme Court deciding whether women will be able to access medication abortion, it is more critical than ever that our federal government use its authorities and resources to combat this propaganda. We must help women and families seeking access to life-saving reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, and help ensure they receive accurate information and resources to make informed medical decisions. Fear and confusion are the most powerful tools used by forced birth extremists. The "Abortion Care Awareness Act" would shine a light through the darkness and help women find their way to the healthcare they need and deserve.”

“The flood of anti-abortion disinformation shared by crisis pregnancy centers poses a direct danger to women seeking reproductive health care across the country,” said Congressman Dan Goldman. “These disinformation centers use fear, lies and manipulation to prey on vulnerable women – oftentimes in low-income communities and communities of color – to dissuade them from seeking abortion care and services. Enough is enough. It is past time for the federal government to ensure that everyone seeking reproductive health care has access to accurate information, so no one is taken advantage of again.”

“Every person in the United States should be able to access accurate information on where and how to obtain abortion care," said the Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney. "Republican-led states continue to impose draconian bans that are forcing women to travel long distances to seek abortion care and leading to the spread of abortion misinformation intended to deceive patients. All while Congressional Republicans continue to make clear they want more than state bans: a national restriction on abortion that will put healthcare professionals in jail just for doing their jobs. The "Abortion Care Awareness Act" will help ensure that every American can access accurate, comprehensive information to make decisions about the health and economic security of themselves and their families, while pushing back against the disinformation peddled by crisis pregnancy centers.” 

“We are currently navigating a world where tragically, because of political attacks on abortion and the pervasiveness of abortion stigma, misinformation and disinformation about abortion care is widespread," said Doctor Jamila Perritt, President and CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health. "I am grateful to see legislation aiming to combat the harm this misinformation causes. People deserve to have accurate and comprehensive information about all of their health care options to make decisions for their own lives.”

“At a time when anti-abortion lawmakers and groups are peddling disinformation to create chaos and confusion, we need to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to medically accurate information, including how to make informed health care decisions for themselves, information on medication abortion, and how to get the care they need," said Karen Stone, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Relations for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "We are grateful to Reps. Crockett and Goldman for bringing forward this timely piece of legislation to expand educational resources on abortion care.”

The "Abortion Care Awareness Act" amends the Public Health Service Act by requiring the Secretary to carry out a coordinated, focused, national public health education, awareness, and outreach campaign including:

• Where and how to access abortion, including medication abortion, and related health services based on State and Federal laws
• How to differentiate between anti-abortion centers or “crisis pregnancy centers” from facilities that actually provide abortion and related health services
• How to identify misinformation regarding abortion and related health services

The information campaign would be designed in coordination with licensed health care professionals who are experts in sexual and reproductive health, non-profit organizations whose missions are focused on expanding reproductive rights, state and local health departments, and non-profit institutions of higher education. It will also be designed to ensure cultural competency, efficacy, and accessibility for and within underserved communities. These communities include communities of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, and people with limited English proficiency.

According to a tally by researchers at the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia, there are approximately 200 crisis pregnancy centers in Texas.

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