Contact: Virginia Cline, Heartbeat International, 614-885-7577

WASHINGTON, Jan., 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- Women who rejected the choice to abort a child, their children saved by compassionate pregnancy centers, and center staff join Heartbeat's inaugural event, Babies Go to Congress. This group represents 20 congressional districts and will visit members of Congress to share that pregnancy centers are good for America.

"On this 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, after years of the dehumanizing choice to abort a child, Heartbeat is bringing to Capitol Hill children saved by the compassionate care of pregnancy centers," said Heartbeat President Peggy Hartshorn, Ph.D. "Members of Congress need to hear from the women we serve. I am grateful they have such positive things to say about pregnancy center help. Children are America's greatest natural resource, and our elected officials need to preserve the bond between mother and child. Our families and the future of our country are strengthened by the life-saving work of pregnancy centers."

Pregnancy center workers, many of whom have had a personal experience with an unplanned pregnancy, adoption, and abortion, include doctors, lawyers, nurses, concerned parents, social workers, educators, and others. They provide healthy alternatives to abortion for girls and women faced with an untimely pregnancy.

"We are not here looking for a bailout. Our representatives need to know that pregnancy centers are serving communities by uniting thousands of individuals with a passion for life who fund the pregnancy centers and volunteer to help women build strong families," said Hartshorn. "Heartbeat's network of community-based pregnancy centers saves approximately 2,000 babies a week from abortion, utilizes over 25,000 volunteers, and receives about $125 million a year in charitable support for their organizations. Without any financial gain, Heartbeat's network serves women with unexpected pregnancies."

Heartbeat affiliates provide all the facts on abortion - from post-traumatic stress disorder to possible medical complications - that abortion clinics often leave out. Heartbeat affiliates provide emotional support and practical help needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy. They set the standard for true reproductive healthcare for women in America.

Heartbeat International (www.HeartbeatInternational.org), founded in 1971, is an interdenominational Christian association of nearly 1,100 pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, non-profit adoption agencies, and medical clinics in 48 states and 43 other countries. Heartbeat provides www.OptionLine.org (800-395-HELP), a joint venture with Care Net, to connect women with the local pregnancy center for the compassionate help they need.