The North Carolina legislature approved a budget Friday that includes $17.5 million to help women in crisis, $12.5 million of which will go to the Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship (CPCF). CPCF offers support to 75% of the state’s pregnancy resource centers (PRCs). Though Democratic Governor Roy Cooper called the budget a “bad budget,” he announced Friday he would allow it to become law without his signature.
PRCs play a vital role in offering pregnant women and families care and support. They provide a wide variety of services, including ultrasounds, medical care, prenatal support, parenting classes, baby food, diapers and wipes, clothing, furniture, and more. In one study, The Charlotte Lozier Institute reported that between 2016 and 2020, over 800,000 lives were saved thanks to the support given to families by PRCs across the nation. North Carolina is one of the few states that recognizes the valuable work of PRCs — many other states throughout the country are targeting these organizations, simply because they do not commit abortions.
“Pregnancy care centers are a vital resource supporting pregnant women and their babies. Seventy-six percent of women who had abortions say they would have chosen life if their situations were different, and this funding totaling $6.8 million per year will help women choose life,” said NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald. “The ability to see your child on an ultrasound before making a life and death decision for your child is imperative, so funding ultrasound machines was an important component of this appropriation.”
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Tonya Baker Nelson, founder and chief executive officer of Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers, told The Washington Post that additional state funding allows organizations like hers to increase the help they’re able to give to women in need. “It allows us to address some real, tangible needs,” Baker Nelson said. “I think it’s a wise move for states to support organizations that women turn to for support if they choose life.”
According to NC Values, the budget also allocated $1.5 million for The Human Coalition, an organization that exists to support pregnancy centers, and $3.15 million for individual pregnancy resource centers.
“We are thankful the General Assembly not only passed pro-life legislation this session to save the lives of thousands of unborn babies from death but for funding pregnancy care centers so that more women feel confident and equipped to choose life,” said Fitzgerald. “As pro-life advocates, NC Values will continue to advocate for the unborn, pregnant women, and their babies once they are born.”
Currently, in North Carolina, preborn children are not protected from abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy. By 12 weeks, a preborn child touches her hand to her mouth, her nose and lips are completely formed, and she can make complex facial expressions.
