Republican New York Rep. Claudia Tenney reintroduced legislation Thursday that would make sure pro-life pregnancy centers and places of worship are protected from activists, and would increase the penalties for attackers.
The legislation, titled the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act and first obtained by the Daily Caller, is a companion legislation to the same bill introduced by Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley. The bill would increase criminal penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony for first-time offenses. The bill would also increase the criminal fine from $10,000 to $25,000.
In Washington, D.C., the Capitol Hill Crisis Pregnancy Center was vandalized in June 2022. In Amherst, New York, a CompassCare Pregnancy Services location was set on fire as more pro-life pregnancy centers and Christian churches have been vandalized
“Pregnancy resource centers across the country are continuing to be attacked and vandalized by radical pro-abortion extremist groups,” Tenney told the Caller before reintroducing the bill. “The recent vandalization of CompassCare and increased attacks on pro-life facilities are simply reprehensible. The perpetrators of these attacks must be found and prosecuted. It is my honor to reintroduce the Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act on behalf of women and families everywhere who visit centers like CompassCare to receive compassionate and professional care and support.
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READ THE LEGISLATION HERE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
“This bill works to hold these criminals responsible for their acts of violence. House Republicans remain committed to protecting all those who stand up for life in this country as well as to promoting and preserving the right to life for all,” Tenney added.
The Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act would also guarantee pregnancy resource centers and religious facilities that successfully sue will receive no less than $20,000, which is $10,000 more than the current levels. It would also impose a 7-year mandatory minimum when attacks involve arson, which is an increase from the current 5-year mandatory minimum.
LifeNews Note: Henry Rodgers writes for Daily Caller. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience.