GOP Bill Proposes to Protect the Rights of Pregnant College Students

House Republicans are set to advance the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act on Wednesday. They claim that this legislation will ensure pregnant college students are aware of all their options and require schools to provide information about accommodations, in order to combat the perception that abortion is the only solution and avoid academic failure.

“This bill is based on the belief that pregnant women, especially those facing the uncertainty of an unexpected college pregnancy, should be informed of all available options to support carrying the baby to term,” said House Education and Workforce Committee chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., in an interview with The Washington Examiner.

“The goal is to maximize the pregnant mother’s educational journey while minimizing harm to her child’s potential future,” she added.

The legislation states that around 30% of all abortions in the United States are performed on college-age women between the ages of 20-24. It aims to mandate schools receiving federal funding through the Higher Education Act to distribute information to all students about their rights and resources should they become pregnant.

The resources could include permission to miss class for prenatal doctor visits, continue scholarships for women who need to take time off to give birth, access to community resources for post-birth child care, and their rights to seek additional restroom breaks, proper seating, and file Title IX complaints if they believe their rights have been violated.

“Universities should create a supportive and understanding environment where pregnant students feel safe seeking assistance and guidance,” Foxx said. “However, counselors often fail to provide pregnant students with a complete picture of all available resources.”

A similar legislation was recently enacted to protect pregnant employees, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission added access to abortion to the administrative rules on the law. A spokesperson for the Education and Workforce Committee expects the Biden administration to take similar action with the students’ bill, but mentioned that the legislation is “narrowly tailored” to prevent this from happening.