Power to Decide Statement on the Reintroduction of the SAD Act
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Today, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Emilia Sykes (D-OH) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced the Stop Antiabortion Disinformation (SAD) Act, legislation that aims to prohibit deceptive advertising of abortion and other reproductive health services.
Preventing harm done by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) is at the heart of this legislation. CPCs routinely deceive people seeking care by falsely presenting themselves as comprehensive reproductive health care clinics, intentionally delaying time sensitive abortion services, spreading inaccurate information about abortion and contraception and discouraging people seeking abortion care.
Power to Decide CEO and practicing OB-GYN Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, issued the following statement in support:
“People across the country are facing ever-increasing obstacles to accessing reproductive health care, including abortion services. In addition to bans and restrictions on abortion, the anti-abortion movement and policymakers who support them have continued to spread misinformation and disinformation about abortion services. We must take proactive steps to protect reproductive health care and prohibit disinformation about abortion that often results in delayed care or no care at all. The ‘SAD Act’ would address these deceptive practices.
“As a practicing OBGYN, I know firsthand how important it is that pregnant people have access to accurate information so that they can make important decisions about their care and lives without bias, stigma or shame. Far too often “crisis pregnancy centers” have interfered with access to sexual and reproductive health services by deceiving people of their options. The continued disinformation spread by these fake clinics in an already dire and ever-changing landscape impacts people’s ability to make informed decisions about their health care. These impacts and compounding barriers disproportionately impact young people, LGBTQ+ folks and people of color, pushing access further out of reach.
“Everyone — no matter who they are or where they live — should have the resources and accurate information to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. We urge Congress to pass the ‘SAD Act’ so that every person has access to medically accurate information and the power to decide their reproductive futures.”
People can ensure the abortion care they’re receiving is from a trustworthy source and provider by visiting AbortionFinder.org to find a verified clinic near them. AbortionFinder, a digital tool of Power to Decide, is the nation's most comprehensive and trusted directory of verified abortion providers and support services. It is a critical resource for individuals to confidently learn about abortion options, funding and support and the current state of abortion access where people live.
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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.