Power to Decide Applauds the Introduction of the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Suzanne Bonamici and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Robert Menendez introduced the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act, directing the Federal Trade Commission to take action against deceptive advertising practices by so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs). If passed, the bill will ban CPCs from making false or misleading statements about what reproductive health care services they do—and do not—provide.

The following statement can be attributed to Power to Decide CEO Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH:

“The fake clinics known as CPCs have a long history of suggesting—or outright claiming—that they offer comprehensive reproductive health care services. In fact, they are typically run by anti-abortion organizations, often with no certified medical staff, and no intention of providing either abortion care or birth control. Instead, they push inaccurate, incomplete and stigmatizing information, and few if any clinical services.

“There are more than 2,500 CPCs operating across the country, outnumbering certified health clinics that provide abortion care by an average of three to one. Even more troubling, the majority of CPCs are located in communities where it is already difficult to access abortion or other essential health care. People in these communities face additional barriers to care when they find themselves in a fake clinic that fails to provide them with medically accurate and complete information about their own pregnancies and health care options. At a time when so many stand to lose access to abortion care, we must put a stop to the fraudulent practices of CPCs that deceive and delay time-sensitive, essential care.

“We at Power to Decide thank Representatives Maloney and Bonamici, and Senators Warren and Menendez for introducing this critically important bill, and all of the legislative champions working to ensure that everyone has equitable access to the information they need to protect their reproductive autonomy, health and well-being.”

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Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live, or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant or have a child.