On the Anniversary of Dobbs: Pro-Life Means Supporting Life at Every Stage

As we mark the 3rd anniversary of the Dobbs decision, we celebrate how far the pro-life movement has come—not just in defending the unborn, but in broadening the vision of what it truly means to be “pro-life.”

To say “I am pro-life” today carries a deeper, more holistic meaning. It’s not just about being anti-abortion—it’s about standing alongside women before, during, and after pregnancy. If we are asking a mother to make a lifelong “yes” to life, then pro-life advocates must be willing to meet her with the support she needs for that lifelong journey.

The reality is clear: most women who seek abortion do so because they feel they can’t afford to raise a child. That’s not a moral failing—it’s a cry for help. And if economic pressure drives her despair, then we as a society—and especially as pro-lifers—must be ready with solutions that turn that despair into hope, that fear into confidence.

That’s why post-Dobbs, the pro-life movement must be as committed to post-birth policies as it is to protecting pre-born life. That includes innovative family first policies that are being considered in the current reconciliation package, including the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Ideally this will include a blending of the House and Senate versions of the CTC to achieve at least a $2,500 permanent CTC that adjusts according to inflation going forward. This structure will preserve the best of what both chambers have proposed. 

Both House and Senate bills also make the employer paid leave tax credit permanent (Section 45S) passed under TCJA in 2017. This provision allows businesses to provide paid leave for employees welcoming a new child or caring for a sick loved one—without compromising their financial stability. While employees take time off, businesses continue to pay their wages, and the federal government offsets a portion of that cost by reducing the employer’s tax liability. It’s a practical way for businesses to be both pro-life and pro-family—supporting workers in moments that matter most. Furthermore the Right and Left are coming together to meet these deeply felt needs as Senators Hyde-Smith, Kaine, Hawley, and Gillibrand introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, which, according to its sponsors,

“would ease the out-of-pocket costs paid by parents to have a child, which today forces many to incur debt and struggle to pay medical bills. The legislation would prevent cost-sharing requirements for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal, or postpartum health care for Americans with private health insurance.”

You might be thinking, “Wait—doesn’t this just expand the government?” Not necessarily. In fact, when families are healthy and supported, the government has less reason to intervene. When civil society and sound policy work hand-in-hand, we reduce the long-term burden on public systems. It's a smarter, smaller government through upstream investment in the family.

These policies aren’t about growing the government—they are about growing strong families and stable communities.

The current moment offers a fertile opportunity for pro-life activists to lead boldly in these conversations—both here and here—by thoughtfully and creatively advancing principles and policies that give women and men the courage and confidence to embrace motherhood and fatherhood. 

When the pro-life movement provides real financial confidence, it empowers parents to choose life not just once, but again and again—growing strong families and building a society that is both healthy and flourishing.