Just days before the annual March for Life, U.S. Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) has introduced legislation aimed at ensuring pregnant college students are fully aware of the campus resources available to them.
Dubbed the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, the bill seeks to amend the Higher Education Act. If passed, it would require colleges and universities to actively inform students about protections that allow them to carry a pregnancy to term without sacrificing their academic standing.
The proposal addresses a concern long held by pro-life advocates: that female students often feel pressured to choose between their education and a pregnancy due to a lack of institutional support or awareness of their rights.
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“Navigating college can be challenging, and unfortunately women who become pregnant can feel pressure [to] choose between bringing life into this world or academic failure,” Senator Moody said in a statement. “My Pregnant Students’ Rights Act ensures students know what resources and support are available to them to stay in school, succeed, and care for their new baby.”
What the Bill Requires
Under the proposed legislation, higher education institutions would be mandated to disseminate information regarding rights and protections through multiple channels, including student handbooks, orientation sessions, emails, and campus health centers.
Specific resources the bill highlights include:
- Modified class schedules.
- Excused absences.
- Assistance with childcare.
- Procedures for filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Education regarding Title IX violations.
The legislation has garnered significant backing from Republican leadership. Senate Majority Leader John Thune joined the effort as a cosponsor, framing the initiative as a central pillar of the pro-life movement’s focus on helping mothers.
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“I’m grateful to Senator Moody for leading this legislation, which would ensure that pregnant college students have access to the support they need,” Thune said.
Broad Legislative Support
The bill has attracted a wide roster of cosponsors, including Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and James Lankford (R-OK), among others. U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson is leading the companion effort in the House.
“It is unacceptable that so many [students] often feel they have to choose between finishing their education and having their baby,” Rep. Hinson said.
Advocacy groups, including Students for Life Action and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, have endorsed the measure. Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, noted that while Title IX offers theoretical protections, “far too few know about” them.
“This effort will require schools to communicate protections in place and commit to helping such pregnant and parenting students succeed on campus,” Hawkins said.
The bill’s introduction comes as pro-life groups prepare to descend on the capital for the March for Life, signaling a legislative push to expand support systems for mothers in educational settings.
“Simply allowing women to know their rights should not be controversial,” said Senator James Lankford.
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