HARRISBURG – Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) today condemned the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s decision to launch a website targeting pregnancy resource centers and soliciting anonymous complaints against them using a new form on the website.
Attorneys general in California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have recently put up similar websites. The website provides examples of complaints but does not acknowledge prior receipt of any such complaint.
“It is troubling to me that our attorney general would choose to malign pregnancy resource centers that have been helping elevate and support young women for many, many years,” Ward said. “Despite the success rates these centers have had in helping women and families, they are now in the partisan cross hairs of the attorney general. Like Gov. Josh Shapiro, the attorney general is putting politics ahead of the many women who receive life-affirming care from these programs.”
The Department of Human Services in August announced it was cancelling its contract with Real Alternatives. Real Alternatives was created in 1994 in a bipartisan attempt to provide an alternative to abortion for women who seek the support and services necessary to successfully navigate their pregnancy. Since its inception, Real Alternatives and the pregnancy resource centers they support have helped more than 350,000 women during over 1.8 million visits, all while not receiving a single complaint in their 28 year history.
“This website is the most recent in a string of partisan attacks on pregnancy resource centers,” Ward said. “Earlier this year, Gov. Shapiro pulled the funding for Real Alternatives, a first-in-the-nation program that served as a model for several states. This program has helped hundreds of thousands of women and families by providing parenting classes, possibly a place to stay, and material goods such as diapers, wipes, and clothing to these women. The governor should be working to strengthen organizations like these that provide daily needs to vulnerable women and babies, not senselessly shut their doors.”
Residents can follow Ward on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenJudyWard and Twitter @SenatorJWard for news about legislation and the 30th Senate District. Contact information for her district offices and other information can be found on her website at SenatorJudyWard.com, and constituents also can sign up for her e-newsletter at SenatorJudyWard.com/enewsletters.
Contact: Nathan Akers
717-787-2421