Crisis pregnancy centers’ funding is on the line. Idaho Republicans want to keep it going

Federal funding for controversial “pregnancy resource centers” — which critics say advertise fake services and offer unethical counseling on abortion — is on the line after President Joe Biden’s administration proposed tightening rules for a national family assistance program. Now, Idaho Republicans are working to keep funding those clinics.

In a news release, Sen. Jim Risch, a Republican, announced his support for a bill that would guarantee the federal government cannot exclude pregnancy resource centers from receiving funds through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The legislation was introduced in the U.S. House last month and the Senate last week, with Risch as a cosponsor.

In Risch’s news release, he said the bill “ensures these critical resources remain available to the most vulnerable among us.” Risch’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Pregnancy resource centers, which are also called crisis pregnancy centers, have been the target of criticism from medical experts and abortion rights activists for decades. Critics say the clinics are predatory, unethical and advertise false pregnancy services — including abortion — before pressuring pregnant patients against abortion.

Nearly two dozen of them are in Idaho, according to a database created by Expose Fake Clinics, a pro-abortion rights website.

Several clinics advertise “abortion pill reversal” services, a procedure the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says is unproven at best and dangerous at worst. Brandi Swindell, founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, told the Statesman that Stanton has successfully used the procedure, which involves a patient taking doses of progesterone after having taken medication used for a chemical abortion.

“We have evidence, and (the American Medical Association) may call it anecdotal but we have five babies that are alive because of this,” Swindell said.

Swindell said she believes skepticism around abortion pill reversal is “a tactic of the abortion industry” to persuade pregnant patients to complete chemical abortions.

The Biden administration in October proposed a rule to clarify parts of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides support and financial resources to low-income families with children. The program rules require funds go toward a handful of specific purposes, including reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies, encouraging two-parent families and promoting financial independence.

The proposed rule said counseling for patients who are already pregnant does not meet the goal of preventing out-of-wedlock pregnancy. It specifically mentioned crisis pregnancy centers and said states must ensure they’re disbursing program funds to entities that align with the TANF goals.

Swindell said Stanton Healthcare supports Risch and finds the Biden rule proposal discriminatory toward pregnancy resource centers.

“It’s harmful to the women we serve,” Swindell said.

Idaho Republican U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher both voted in favor of passing a House version of the bill. Fulcher’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Simpson’s office directed the Statesman to a news release, in which the representative said he was proud to support pro-life policies.

Idaho crisis pregnancy centers’ funding

In Idaho, the state Department of Health and Welfare is responsible for disbursing federal and state funds through the Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI) program.

Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter told the Statesman by email that no funding from the TAFI program since 2018 has gone to Idaho’s crisis pregnancy centers. McWhorter said the department is “unable to quickly access information prior to 2018.”

Several Idaho pregnancy resource centers, including Stanton Healthcare and Birthright of Boise, say they are funded entirely through private donations. Swindell said Stanton has a policy not to apply for federal and state funds, though Stanton is among pregnancy resource centers that receive state dollars through the sale of Idaho’s pro-life license plates.

Swindell said though her organization doesn’t apply for TANF or TAFI funds, she still thinks it’s good for pregnancy resource centers to have access to those funds.

Many Idaho pregnancy centers identify themselves as “life-affirming” or “pro-life” and state that they will not make referrals for abortions. Their services include pregnancy testing and providing items like baby clothes, formula and diapers.

None of the Idaho clinics offer abortions, which were banned in the state following the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade. At least one, Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center in Nampa, acknowledges abortion as an option in its pregnancy counseling services, although its “abortion information” webpage redirects to an anti-abortion nonprofit website with a disclaimer that says it is “not intended to constitute medical advice.”