Duval Times

Washington, D.C. - Pregnant students in the United States face discrimination and a lack of awareness about their rights and available resources, leaving them feeling like abortion is their only option. In an effort to address this issue, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and his colleagues have reintroduced the Pregnant Students Rights Act, a bill that aims to protect the rights of pregnant students and their babies and ensure they are aware of the support they can receive.

The bill, also cosponsored by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Mike Braun (R-IN), seeks to strengthen existing requirements for higher education institutions to publicly disclose the resources and rights available to pregnant students.

Senator Rubio emphasized the importance of empowering pregnant college students to choose life by providing them with information about the resources available to them and their babies while pursuing their education. He stated, "Pregnant college students should never feel like abortion is their only option. This bill would empower more women to choose life by ensuring they are aware of all the resources available to them and their babies while pursuing their education. Every life is precious, and college campuses should never make young women feel marginalized for choosing life."

Senator Hyde-Smith acknowledged the liberal attitudes prevalent on college campuses but stressed that pro-life services for students should not be neglected. She said, "Our bill is intended to ensure colleges and universities actively ensure pregnant students know their protections and rights other than abortion."

Senator Scott, another cosponsor of the bill, expressed his pride in supporting the Pregnant Students Rights Act. He highlighted the importance of informing pregnant students about the protections and services available to them and their unborn child, stating, "There are so many organizations working to support new and soon-to-be moms, and making sure they know about these resources is critical to protecting them and their unborn child."

In addition, Senator Braun emphasized the need for pregnant students to have access to all available resources and be informed about their rights, rather than being pressured into abortion. He stated, "College students should have access to all resources available when making decisions about their pregnancy, not just pressured into an abortion. This legislation ensures that pregnant students are informed about their protections and rights."

The Pregnant Students Rights Act includes several key provisions to protect pregnant students and their rights. It would amend the Higher Education Act to require higher education institutions to distribute information about the rights of pregnant students and the resources available to them through various channels such as websites, student handbooks, emails, and student orientations.

Furthermore, the bill would reinforce existing laws that require schools to adopt and publish procedures for students to file complaints of discrimination related to their sex, pregnancy, or parental status. By making these protections and accommodations more widely known, the legislation aims to ensure that pregnant students receive the support they need.

Another important aspect of the Pregnant Students Rights Act is the requirement for higher education institutions to complete an annual survey of their students. This survey would gather information about how pregnant students used campus resources and identify any Title IX violations that may have occurred.

To learn more about the Pregnant Students Rights Act, please visit Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Pregnant Students Rights Act.