Senate Bill Targets Deceptive Advertising by Pregnancy Crisis Centers

Senator Robert Menendez introduced a bill in the Senate yesterday that would regulate the misleading advertising practices of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Services Act (see PDF) would require the Federal Trade Commission to create and enforce rules to prohibit CPCs' deceptive advertising practices, such as advertising under the term "abortion services." The act expressly defines abortion services to mean "providing surgical and non-surgical procedures to terminate a pregnancy, or providing referrals for such procedures."

House Representative Carolyn Maloney introduced the Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services Act in the House last summer.

Rep. Maloney said, "Although I may disagree with their views, many crisis pregnancy centers are forthright and respectful and they have a right to exist. Unfortunately, some take a more underhanded approach to lure in women seeking abortions by using tactics that should be illegal. Many women who face unwanted pregnancies find themselves in a very difficult, very personal situation. They shouldn't have to face the added stress of deciphering whether or not the clinic they choose offers legitimate medical services."

To learn more about CPCs, visit Feminist Campus's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics.

Media Resources: National Abortion Federation Press Release 04/01/08; RH Reality Check 04/01/08; Representative Carolyn Maloney's website; House Bill 2478; Feminist Newswire 02/22/07; Feminist Campus

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