Rep. Crank Vows to Support Pregnant and Parenting Mothers; Votes to Provide Assistance for Needy Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of H.R. 6945, Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act.

The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act will provide assistance to needy families to empower them to care for their children at home and further protect and encourage strong families so that children can be cared for in their own home or in the home of relative. H.R. 6945 amends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) statute to prohibit discrimination against pregnancy centers and clarify that use of funds for pregnancy centers is allowable.

"Here in Colorado's Fifth Congressional District, we have pregnancy centers, like Life Network, who provide crucial services to expecting mothers and fathers," said Rep. Crank. "Pregnancy centers offer hope and opportunity, promoting life and giving necessary and lifesaving resources. Life Network has served almost 3,900 patients just in the last year, providing high quality pregnancy test, ultrasounds, early pregnancy care, and more for free to anyone who walks through their doors.

"This is just the impact in my district, and I know that the presence of similar pregnancy centers across the country is providing hope and support to thousands of parents each day. Funding for these mothers and fathers, many of whom are underserved, should never be politically taken away."

Background:

• Over 2,700 pregnancy centers across the country aided nearly two million people in 2024;
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a key federal program in the fight against poverty and provides $16.5 billion in federal funding to states to further four purposes;
• Many states use TANF to support pregnancy centers which meet these purposes by providing material support and assistance to women in need;
• The Biden administration proposed a rule in 2023 that maliciously targeted pregnancy centers, leaving their TANF funding in jeopardy.