Heartbeat Briefs Congress on Pregnancy Center Work

by Staff
March 20, 2007

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WASHINGTON, (christiansunite.com) -- Heartbeat International along with sister organizations Care Net and National Institute of Family and Life Advocates held a briefing on Capitol Hill on March 13 for members of Congress and Congressional staffers from both major parties.

As the head of the nation's oldest and largest pregnancy center association, Heartbeat President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D., opened the briefing with a history of the pregnancy resource center movement in the U.S.

"After an onslaught of attacks against pregnancy centers, there is a great need to be proactive and explain to Congressional members and staffers the importance of the life-saving work of pregnancy centers across the country," said Hartshorn. "With the CBS coverage and then the TIME magazine article, we needed to present the history of the pregnancy center movement along with our vision for the future where women are able to recognize abortion as the harmful choice that it is."

"It is vital to the future of our nation that we respond to the false allegations against pregnancy centers," said Congressman Rick Renzi (R-Arizona). "We need to get the truth out to legislators that these non-political, faith-based organizations serve the mother so she does not feel forced to abort, and these dedicated volunteers also work to strengthen each family, which is after all the basic unit of civilization."

Other key presenters covered topics such as: abortion risks, medical accuracy, client demographics, and ultrasound technology. We also took the opportunity to circulate Our Commitment of Care which outlines our dedication to serve with truth and accuracy.

Heartbeat International (heartbeatinternational.org), founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of more than 1,000 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics in 47 states and 37 countries.

Heartbeat International provides Option Line® (800- 395-HELP), a joint venture with Care Net, to connect callers with the closest pregnancy center for the help they need. Each month our national call center responds to approximately 20,000 contacts and provides a center locator system and Instant Messenger at www.optionline.org.