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College students seeking pregnancy or parenting services would have access to campus resources and programs through bipartisan legislation introduced by Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson and North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole.
"The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act of 2007" establishes a pilot program that provides $50 million in grants for universities to create and operate pregnant and parenting student service offices for pregnant students, parenting students, and students who plan to place a child for adoption.
"This legislation supports women who wish to be both students and mothers," said Nelson. "By fostering a parent-friendly environment in our nation's universities, we can help these students who have made the decision to balance parenthood and education."
"Pregnancy and child rearing can be overwhelming, particularly when coupled with the pressures of being a student," said Dole. "Whether they are married or single, mothers or fathers, we need to do our part to support these students and provide them with options that allow them to be a parent and still graduate from college. In addition, we need to send a strong message that when an unwanted pregnancy occurs, there are alternatives to abortion. Having access to the resources provided by these grants will make the pursuit of education and a career a continued reality."
Forty-five percent of women who have abortions are college-aged (18-24 years old) and 71 percent of 18-19 year olds and 58 percent of 20-24 year olds said pregnancy would interfere with their education or career.
The pilot grants would be directed to institutions of higher education. A school that receives a grant will assess the resources on campus and in the local community including student health care maternity coverage, housing, child care, flexible academic scheduling such as telecommuting programs, parenting skill programs, and post-partum counseling and support groups.
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