Congressional Republicans are attempting to prevent the Biden administration’s spending rule, which they claim will result in the loss of millions of dollars for anti-abortion counseling centers, in a new development in the ongoing battle over abortion rights.

The regulation would ban states from using federal funds intended for financially struggling Americans to support “crisis pregnancy centers,” which advise against having abortions. This could affect the allocation of millions of dollars in federal funds that are currently given to these organizations through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF is a block grant program that was established in 1996 to provide financial aid to underprivileged children and prevent unplanned pregnancies.

The Health and Human Services agency stated in their rule proposal from the end of last year that programs that solely offer pregnancy counseling to women after they are already pregnant may not meet the required standard.

Over 7,000 comments have been received regarding the proposed regulation, which outlines limitations on the usage of TANF funds by states.

The Biden administration is proposing to limit funding for anti-abortion counseling centers, as part of their efforts to increase abortion accessibility through federal policies. In contrast, conservative states have significantly limited abortion care since the U.S. Supreme Court removed the federal right to abortion for women in 2022.

This week, members of the Republican party in Congress proposed a bill that would prevent the Health and Human Services Agency from limiting the funds for these centers. However, it is highly unlikely that this bill will be passed into law in the current year.

During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing to discuss the legislation, Republican Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois stated that pregnancy centers serve as a crucial alternative for pregnant women.

Conservative groups are using anti-abortion counseling centers as a means to speak out against abortions, according to an investigation by the Associated Press. The investigation also revealed that states have been providing increasing amounts of funding to these programs over the past ten years, with over $500 million in taxpayer dollars being allocated to more than a dozen states since 2010. In response, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania eliminated funding for these centers from the state’s budget last year.

The purpose of these centers has sparked debate as they not only discourage pregnant individuals from pursuing abortion, but also provide potentially inaccurate information about abortion and contraception, such as linking abortion to breast cancer. These centers are often associated with religious beliefs and are not licensed healthcare facilities. They primarily offer pregnancy tests and some may provide minimal medical services like ultrasounds.

According to Chelsey Youman, the national director of public policy for the Human Coalition, an organization against abortion with branches in Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas, the group projects a loss of millions in funding. In the event that this rule is implemented, their plans to expand to Louisiana and Indiana may also be delayed.

According to Youman, her organization aims to link women with resources such as Medicaid, while also encouraging them to carry on with their pregnancy.

Youman stated that our work involves providing genuine compassion and care for women who are going through what may be the most challenging time in their lives.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing adjustments to the guidelines for states to utilize the $16.5 billion block grants designated for impoverished families. This suggestion follows a widely publicized corruption case in Mississippi, where $77 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds were misused over multiple years.

The restrictions would limit how much of the money ends up benefitting middle- and high-income earners, with the agency saying that the percentage of impoverished families who get cash assistance has dropped from nearly 70% in 1996 to just over 21% in 2020. The plan would restrict how states use the money for college scholarships and child care, for example.