U.S. Representatives Marcy Kaptur and Sue Myrick
Celebrate Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday by
Introducing Pro-Woman, Pro-Education Legislation

Feminists for Life College Outreach Program Inspires Legislation

Washington, D.C., February 15, 2007 __ An Ohio Democrat and a North Carolina Republican today introduced pro-woman legislation to help pregnant and parenting college students continue their education—on the birthday of one of America’s first feminists, a teacher named Susan B. Anthony.

The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007,  co-sponsored by Representatives Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, and Sue Myrick, R-North Carolina, is named for Anthony’s good friend and colleague, and modeled on a program Feminists for Life initiated on college campuses in 1997.

As she introduced the bill, Rep. Marcy Kaptur said: “Education is the foundation of a great society, and it is essential that we demonstrate our support for pregnant and parenting students.”  Co-sponsor Rep. Sue Myrick added, “This bill encourages colleges and universities to provide pregnant students with much needed pre-natal and parenting resources.  We have a responsibility as a society to make sure that women facing an unexpected pregnancy have access to support services, so they can make informed decisions.”

The House bill, if passed into law, would establish a pilot program to provide up to $10 million in grants to encourage institutions of higher education to establish and operate a pregnant and parenting student services office. The on-campus office would serve parenting students, prospective student parents who are pregnant or imminently anticipating an adoption, and students who are placing or have placed a child for adoption.

Modeled on Feminists for Life’s Pregnancy Resource Forums, the legislation is named for Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who is credited as the founder of the women’s movement.

“Stanton was a revolutionary who consistently advocated for the rights of women, women's education, the celebration and acceptance of motherhood, and the protection of our children--born and unborn,” said FFL President Serrin Foster, noting Stanton was the mother of seven. “When America is calling for the leaders of the world to focus on areas of agreement so that we can move forward, we can all agree on this: Women should not be forced to choose between their education and career plans and their families. We applaud Representatives Kaptur and Myrick for leading this initiative.”

Feminists for Life's ground-breaking Pregnancy Resource Forums^®, first begun at Georgetown University in 1997, served as the model for the Elizabeth Cady Stanton legislation.  FFL's work also inspired similar Michigan legislation, which was overwhelmingly supported by Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate and signed by a pro-choice governor in 2004.

“A teacher named Susan B. Anthony became the leader of the suffrage movement, and urged the women’s movement to address the root causes that drive women to abortion.  Passing the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Act is one way we can enact what remains of her unfulfilled vision for woman-centered solutions,” Foster concluded.

Established in 1972, Feminists for Life of America is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, grassroots organization that focuses on solving many of the problems faced by pregnant women and parents.