A bill from Senate Health and Human Services Chair Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake) would provide grants to women considering abortion to support, encourage, and assist them with positive alternatives to ending the life of their unborn child. The grants would not only help women carry their pregnancies to term, but also would provide support including safe sleep education, cribs, car seats, and many of the other supports new moms need.

Sen. Benson’s bill would provide $672,000 in grants for information on medical care, nutritional services, housing assistance, adoption services, education and employment assistance, child care assistance, and parenting education and support services.

“The decision to have an abortion is irreversible, but too many women choose that path because they feel they have no other option,” said Senator Benson. “I pray that when presented with positive alternatives, more women will feel hopeful, optimistic, and will choose to give their child the chance at life.”

To be eligible for grants, an agency or organization must:

• Be a private, nonprofit organization
• Demonstrate that the program is conducted under appropriate supervision
• Provide the program’s services to patients free-of-charge
• Provide each pregnant woman with accurate information on the developmental characteristics of babies and of unborn children
• Use the funding to assist and encourage women in carrying their pregnancies to term and to maximize their potentials thereafter
• Not use the funding to provide an abortion, refer the patient to an abortion provider, or encourage a woman to have an abortion unless necessary to prevent her death