{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hern.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=736", "Hern, Wenstrup Work to Protect Life at All Stages", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Kevin Hern", "H001082", "hern.house.gov", "hern", "https://hern.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) and Ways & Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Acting Ranking Member Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02) led a letter to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting information on federally funded programs available to pregnant women & parents of young children.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, it is imperative that we not only fight to protect life at all stages, but also make it as easy as possible for pregnant women and parents to care for their children,\u201d said Rep. Hern & Dr. Wenstrup. \u201cIdentifying which federal programs are available to expecting mothers & young parents and removing any undue burdens of access is necessary to ensure they receive proper care. We look forward to GAO\u2019s timely response.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nNovember 30, 2022\n\nGene Dodaro\n\nComptroller General of the United States\n\nU.S. Government Accountability Office\n\n441 G St NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20548\n\nDear Mr. Dodaro,\n\nThe historic Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision is an opportunity to protect not only the unborn but their mothers and families as well. Across the country there are more than 2,700 pro-life pregnancy care centers[1] dedicated to protecting life at all stages and providing new mothers with the resources they need. Pro-life states have already created programs to provide women with safe alternatives to abortion.\n\nIn Oklahoma, Governor Stitt created the Helping Every Life and Parent (HELP) Task Force which is dedicated to supporting crisis pregnancy centers, providing community resources for mothers faced with unplanned pregnancy, and empowering non-profits and faith-based organizations to support families and mothers in their communities[2].\n\nWith over 90 federal welfare programs totaling $1.78 trillion[3], the resources to help women and families may already exist. As Congress, we should be working to remove the red tape and obstacles that make it difficult for the intended recipients of these programs to access the assistance they need before we create new programs that may address the same population\u2019s needs.\n\nWe are writing to request that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate and report on the federally funded programs available to pregnant women as well as women and families with children up to six years of age. To this end we ask GAO to compile a report with the following information:\n\nPlease provide a complete list of the federally funded health care, welfare, education, workforce and training, or other means-tested programs or grants available to pregnant women as well as women and families with children up to six years of age.\n\nDisaggregate by eligibility threshold, particularly whether there is an income or asset limit.\n\nFurther disaggregate differences in state eligibility differences.\n\nHow many women in each state are eligible for each program or grants?\n\nHow many of these women have been able to access these programs or grants?\n\nHow many children in each state are eligible for each program or grants?\n\nHow many children have been able to access the programs or grants?\n\nWhat is the total subsidy that a family with children under the age of six who make less than 130 percent of the federal poverty level receives from these programs or grants?\n\nWhat is the total state contributions to these programs or grants?\n\nHow are states directing the funding from these programs?\n\nWhat are the outcomes of each program?\n\nWhich programs do not have available outcome data?\n\nAlso, of these programs:\n\nAre any of these programs or grants duplicative?\n\nWhich are not achieving the outcomes indicated by statute?\n\nWhich are not reaching their target populations, by percentage of target population?\n\nWe appreciate your consideration of this request, and look forward to working with you on this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hern.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=736"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3534650206565857, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}