(The Center Square) – Legislation to require family planning services to provide information on nearby adoption centers to anyone receiving their services has been reintroduced by a Virginia congressman.
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., a beneficiary of adoption and a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, introduced the legislation before the 119th Congress to require family planning services receiving funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide adoption information to be eligible to receive funding grants or contracts.
Wittman highlighted his personal experience with adoption as a driving force behind his legislation while underscoring the importance of providing birth mothers with all their options.
“When I was 8 months old, my mom and dad adopted me,” Wittman said. “My birth mother’s decision to choose adoption gave me more opportunities than she felt she could provide, and my parents’ decision to adopt instilled in me a passion for public service and a desire to give back. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce my Adoption Information Act so that all mothers know what options are available to them. This legislation is a simple step that can make a world of a difference.”
Wittman says his legislation is part of his continual efforts to advocate for streamlining the adoption process, including improvements to the foster care system, access to prenatal and postnatal services and making childcare more affordable. He underscores the importance of “treating pregnant women with compassion” while providing them and their children with adequate support and resources.
Similar legislation has been introduced numerous times in Congress but has faced pushback by many Democrats. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have expressed a desire to cut funding for groups such as Planned Parenthood. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency has also targeted Planned Parenthood.
In 2023, the group touted the fiscal year 2024 federal budget for including over $650 million in federal funding for international family planning and reproductive health programs.