Res. No. 1793
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass and the President to sign the "Stop Deceptive Advertising in Women's Services Act."
By The Speaker (Council Member Quinn) and Council Members, Lappin, Ferreras, Mendez, Arroyo, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Dromm, Eugene, Jackson, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Palma, Recchia, Richards, Rose and Mark-Viverito
Whereas, Crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are facilities that use deceptive advertising to give the false impression that they provide abortion services when in fact they attempt to dissuade women who may be pregnant from choosing abortion or emergency contraception; and
Whereas, Many of these centers are designed to look like medical facilities but do not provide abortion, emergency contraception, prenatal care or referrals for any of these; and
Whereas, Instead, CPCs often give false information about the dangers of abortion and show disturbing videos about abortion or graphic photos of aborted fetuses to further an anti-abortion agenda; and
Whereas, According to Legal Momentum, CPCs were initially an ad-hoc and scattered anti-abortion response to the legalization of abortion following the Roe v. Wade court decision but are now highly organized, heavily funded, and outnumber actual abortion clinics in the nation; and
Whereas, In 2009, in response to growing concerns about CPCs, volunteers for the NARAL Pro-Choice New York Foundation decided to conduct an undercover investigation of CPCs in New York City and found that many CPCs in New York City consistently provide misinformation and seek to manipulate and scare the women who turn to them for care; and
Whereas, Although the operators of these centers are entitled under the law to express their own viewpoint on abortion, deceptive advertising is not a protected right; and
Whereas, H.R. 2030/S.981, introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on May 16, 2013, also known as the Stop Deceptive Advertising in Women's Services Act, is legislation that would prohibit deceptive advertising of abortion services; and
Whereas, Specifically, the Act would require the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate rules to prohibit, as an unfair and deceptive act or practice, a CPC from advertising as a provider of abortion services when it does not in fact provide such services; and
Whereas, Deceptive practices that delay the access of abortion or emergency contraception create increased health risks and financial burdens, and may eliminate a woman's ability to obtain these services altogether, thereby severely limiting her reproductive health options; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to pass and the President to enact the "Stop Deceptive Advertising in Women's Services Act."
JP
6/5/13
LS # 4801