Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new bill in Congress would give states greater authority to help find positive solutions to unplanned pregnancies instead of abortion. Rep. Michele Bachmann has introduced the Positive Alternatives Act that puts into law prior Bush administration regulations allowing states to use the TANF program to help pregnant women.

Current federal regulations allow states to fund abortion alternatives, and Bachmann's bill, the “Positive Alternatives Act” (H.R. 4852) codifies the current state option.

It allows states to fund programs that provide information or counseling that assists women in making decisions about parenting and adoption.

In a letter Bachmann sent to her colleagues, that LifeNews.com obtained, she says her bill would help improve the TANF program.

"Not only do these services help reduce the occurrence of abortion, they also help resolve social, familial and economic challenges many women face that lead to destructive lifestyles and more long-term dependency on government assistance," Bachman says.

She explains that, though the Health and Human Services department currently permits states to use their TANF funding for abortion alternative services, "this is subject to interpretation by those administering the TANF program."

A few dozen members of Congress have already signed on to be co-sponsors of the legislation, including leading pro-life Reps. Chris Smith, Steve Chabot, Roscoe Bartlett, Joe Pitts, and Mike Pence.

Two leading pro-life women in the House, Reps. Sue Myrick and Marsha Blackburn are co-sponsors as is pro-life Democrat Rep. Lincoln Davis.

ACTION: Contact your member of Congress and urge strong support for the “Positive Alternatives Act” (H.R. 4852). See http://www.house.gov or call 202-224-3121.