Office of Rep. Marilyn Strickland press release.
Today (March 27, 2025), during World Doula Week, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04) introduced the Abortion Data and Outreach to Unlock and Leverage Abortion Support Act, or the Abortion DOULAS Act. This bill would direct the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to conduct a study on the benefits of abortion doula care and provide recommendations to states on incorporating this care into state Medicaid programs.
“With women’s rights consistently under attack, it’s important that women have access to the physical and emotional support that they need,” said Strickland. “Abortion doulas provide uniquely valuable support to patients and ensure women have a voice in their reproductive care experience.”
“Abortion doulas provide comfort and support to women after receiving abortion care. Prior to Congress, I proudly served as an abortion counselor and helped women through an often-emotional process. Their work is especially important now in our post-Roe America. I am partnering with Rep. Strickland on legislation to support research on abortion doulas, so we can better understand their impact and as a result, better serve those seeking abortion care,” said Moore.
“Abortion doulas offer vital physical, social, and emotional support to those seeking abortion care in what continues to be a chaotic post-Dobbs landscape,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The barriers to abortion access are even steeper for those living in under-resourced communities that often lack sufficient economic investments and health care infrastructure, making the expertise and care that abortion doulas offer even more valuable. Especially important are those abortion doulas who provide culturally competent care rooted in a deep understanding of the communities they serve. We thank Representatives Strickland and Moore for their leadership on this critical bill to improve patient access to quality health care experiences.”
“While there has been a great deal of research into the benefits and incidence of doula care during the prenatal and postpartum period and during labor and delivery, there has been comparably less research into this topic for abortion doula care. Representative Strickland’s bill will help address this need by commissioning a comprehensive study on the benefits of abortion doula care and state coverage of abortion doula care, while also bringing to the topic the direct impact and experiences of abortion doulas and clients who have received abortion doula care. NHeLP has always been a supporter of doula care for all the ways in which a pregnancy can end, including doula care for abortion, and are proud to support this bill,” said Amy Chen, Senior Attorney at the National Health Law Program.
Abortion doulas are trained, non-clinical professionals that provide emotional, physical, and informational support to patients before, during, and after seeking abortion care. Often times, abortion doulas act as patient advocates, help patients navigate the healthcare space, and possess culturally-relevant awareness that a medical professional may not consider.
This bill is supported by the following organizations:
- National Partnership for Women & Families
- National Health Law Program
- Surge Reproductive Justice
- Physicians for Reproductive Health
- National Network of Abortion Funds
You can read the full bill text here.
Pathetic and disgusting!
Oh, fantastic—another man confidently declaring what women should do with their bodies. Because, of course, nothing screams well-informed and deeply empathetic perspective like someone who will never, under any circumstances, experience pregnancy.
And let’s be clear: the loudest voices against abortion aren’t exactly known for their consistency. These are often the same people who scream about “government overreach” when asked to wear a seatbelt but are totally fine with the government making deeply personal medical decisions for half the population. “My body, my choice—unless you have a uterus, in which case, shut up and do as you’re told.”
And the idea that unwanted pregnancies are always preventable? Please. Birth control fails. People are assaulted. Life is messy. But somehow, for these people, the answer is always to force someone to carry a pregnancy, regardless of the circumstances, because they think they know best.
So, maybe—and this is just a suggestion—if you’ve never been pregnant, will never be pregnant, and have absolutely no understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial toll pregnancy can take, you should sit this one out. Or at the very least, recognize that if you truly care about reducing abortions, the best way to do that isn’t bans—it’s comprehensive sex education, access to contraception, and support for people who choose to have kids. But that would require actual thought and effort, which, let’s be honest, is not their strong suit.
Abortion is wrong. In fact, according to the following list of contraceptive methods below, it appears to me that getting pregnant is no “accident.” It’s “planned.” Therefore, there is no need for abortions.
There are numerous birth control methods available, including:
Hormonal Methods: Oral contraceptives (pills), Contraceptive patch, Vaginal ring, Injectables, and Implants.
Barrier Methods: Condoms (male and female), Diaphragm, Cervical cap, and Spermicide.
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): Copper IUD and Hormonal IUD.
Permanent Methods: Tubal ligation (for women) and Vasectomy (for men).
Other Methods:
Withdrawal
Fertility awareness-based methods (e.g., rhythm method, basal body temperature monitoring)
Lactational infertility (temporary method)
Emergency contraception (e.g., Plan B)
Well, of course, there is the possibility that some may consider murder is not objectionable as long as it isn’t them on the receiving end.
I firmly believe that abortion is a woman’s right to choose, and neither the government nor religion has any place in that deeply personal decision. A woman’s autonomy over her own body is fundamental, and no one should have the power to take that away. I’m grateful that Marilyn Strickland is standing up for reproductive rights and protecting the freedom to make these choices without interference. Her support means a lot in a time when these rights are constantly under attack.
The old saying: Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
More baby killing?! Instead, we could use true fathers and mothers teaching how valuable life is and how to be responsible human beings and love babies and all people. We need pastors and teachers who teach the sanctity of human life and the need to protect the most vulnerable people in the world–unborn, voiceless children.
If you are thinking about abortion, please don’t kill your baby but, rather, ask for help from people who actually love you and won’t murder your child for expediency and convenience and cash. Each of us is a wonderful and important creation of God:
“13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
(Psalm 139:13-16)
I firmly believe that abortion is a woman’s right to choose, and neither the government nor religion has any place in that deeply personal decision. A woman’s autonomy over her own body is fundamental, and no one should have the power to take that away. I’m grateful that Marilyn Strickland is standing up for reproductive rights and protecting the freedom to make these choices without interference. Her support means a lot in a time when these rights are constantly under attack.
Do we have the right to murder anyone we choose? As someone involved in the US Military, what is it called when a person chooses to murder an innocent person intentionally (the answer is criminal homicide)? A baby is a completely separate person with his or her own DNA, heart, lungs, limbs, brain, other vital organs, bones, muscles, and even personality. They are simply developing and maturing. Taking the life of a totally innocent and unprotected human being is not a “right”. We need to teach our children to love and protect the innocent, not enable murder… We need more love, not murder. We must stand up for the innocent, especially those who are unable to protect themselves. My hope is that we will all learn to love every child, every person, and do everything we can to protect each innocent life, from conception to grave. Blessings to all!
The argument that pregnancy is always “planned” ignores the complex realities of life. No form of birth control is 100% effective, and access to contraception is not always guaranteed. People experience contraceptive failure, sexual assault, reproductive coercion, and medical conditions that make pregnancy dangerous. Even the most careful and responsible individuals can face unplanned pregnancies.
A woman’s right to choose is about more than just contraception—it’s about bodily autonomy, health, and personal freedom. No one should be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will, whether due to failed birth control, personal circumstances, or medical necessity. Abortion is not murder; it is a legal and necessary medical procedure that allows women to make the best decisions for their own lives.
At its core, this is about trust. We either trust women to make the right choices for themselves, or we take that power away and give it to the government, religious institutions, or strangers who will never live with the consequences. I stand firmly for a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, without interference from those who will never walk in her shoes.