Congresswoman Claudia Tenney announced that the House of Representatives has passed the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, a bill she co-led with Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and Congressman Chris Smith. The legislation aims to protect states’ authority to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy resource centers. These centers provide services such as prenatal care, parenting education, counseling, ultrasounds, and material assistance.
The bill was approved by a vote of 215–209. It is intended as a response to efforts by the Biden administration to limit states from directing TANF funds to these centers. Supporters of the bill argue that the administration lacks statutory authority for such restrictions and that states have long had flexibility in distributing these funds.
Congresswoman Tenney stated, “The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act ensures women are not left to navigate pregnancy and parenthood alone because of politics. Pregnancy resource centers serve women with dignity by providing medical care, counseling, and practical support during some of life’s most challenging moments. This legislation affirms states’ authority to support mothers, protect unborn children, and strengthen families without federal interference. Advancing this bill through the House is an important step toward restoring commonsense, pro-family policies that put women and children first.”
Claudia Tenney has represented New York’s 24th district in Congress since 2021 after succeeding Anthony Brindisi (https://tenney.house.gov/about). Before her current role in Congress, she served in the New York State Assembly from 2011 to 2016 (https://tenney.house.gov/about). Born in New Hartford, New York in 1961, Tenney currently lives in Canandaigua. She earned her BA from Colgate University in 1983 and her JD from the University of Cincinnati in 1987.
