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Thank your Senators for the SDAWS Act
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) recently introduced the Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women's Services (SDAWS) Act, which would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce truth-in-advertising standards for fake "clinics" known as anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is one of the original co-sponsors of the bill and we at PPANJ would like to take the opportunity to thank them both for their leadership on this issue. This is a companion to the House bill introduced by Representative Maloney in 2006.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Thank you for your leadership on the important issue of deceptive advertising among crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). As you know, these centers are often "staffed" by untrained volunteers who are out to scare and misinform women about their pregnancies and options. Their deceptive advertising tactics are just one of the ways that they strive to confuse women who are looking for medically accurate health information. In NJ, there are at least two CPCs in every county, with some counties having eight or more. New Jersey women - and women across the country - deserve honest advertising and honest answers when it comes to their health care. Thank you again for taking a strong position on this issue and being a leader for reproductive rights in the US Senate.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
How the SDAWS Act Will Stop CPCs SDAWS Act directs the FTC to create rules that prohibit any organization from advertising services with the intent to deceive the public into believing that the organization is a provider of abortion services if it does not in fact provide those services. Menendez’s bill makes it clear that the FTC has the authority to penalize or take corrective action against organizations that purport to provide abortion services even if they are nonprofit organizations and provide their services for free. "Using scare tactics and offering misinformation about medical options doesn't allow women to make informed decisions," said Michele Jaker, Executive Director of PPANJ. "Although they may claim to provide a range of services, CPCs are not legitimate health facilities and do not offer comprehensive health services and non-biased, medically accurate information about all pregnancy options. Most often they don't even meet medical standards, and this is why we must pass this bill now." Inside CPCs Once inside, the clinic staff — usually volunteers with no professional training — provide inaccurate, anti-choice propaganda and intimidation and do not inform women of all of their options. Women are exposed to films and written materials that lie about the development of the fetus and the physical, medical and "psychological" effects of abortion. The false information is designed to scare women into carrying pregnancies to term. CPCs also use inaccurately dated ultrasound pictures in attempts to emotionally manipulate women into continuing their pregnancies by deceiving them about gestational development. "Deception and lies don't help women make informed choices," said Jaker. "Too often women are given incomplete or even inaccurate information that leaves them misinformed, confused, and afraid. I applaud these lawmakers for introducing federal legislation that would guarantee critical health care information is given to women so they can make informed decisions about their health." CPCs in the Community Instead of listing themselves in phonebooks under "abortion alternatives," CPCs are often listed under "clinics," "medical services," or "family planning," a misrepresentation that attracts women facing unintended pregnancies who are in search of a clinic that provides a full range of services. CPCs choose names such as "Women's