Heartbeat partners with AUL to equip pregnancy help leaders for advocacy

Heartbeat International partnered with Americans United for Life (AUL) and other pro-life organizations for the inaugural "Telling Our Story: The Keys to Unlocking Pregnancy Center Advocacy" training, held June 3-4 in Washington, D.C. Nearly 90 pregnancy help leaders from across the country gathered for practical training on communicating their mission, engaging elected officials, and advocating effectively at the local, state, and federal levels.

Heartbeat's Director of Government Relations, Jessica Prol Smith, joined AUL leaders to provide instruction on the legislative process, while Vice President of Communications & Marketing Andrea Trudden moderated a panel on effectively telling the story of pregnancy help. Heartbeat President Jor-El Godsey also participated throughout the event and joined pregnancy help leaders in meetings with Members of Congress and Congressional staff on Capitol Hill. Pregnancy Help News Editor Lisa Bourne documented the event. 

The training comes at a time when pregnancy help organizations continue to face misinformation, political attacks, and legislative challenges. Through partnerships like this, Heartbeat remains committed to equipping affiliates with the tools and confidence needed to advocate for life-affirming care and ensure policymakers understand the vital role pregnancy help organizations play in serving women and families.

Heartbeat briefs Hill staff: Moms.gov leads thousands to hope and help

On June 11, 2026, Heartbeat briefed Congressional staff on the immediate impact of Moms.gov, a website designed to provide information, support, and practical help for new and expectant mothers, with its very first link pointing to Option Line.

Option Line saw a significant and immediate increase in traffic across the platform, with a clear spike beginning the day Moms.gov launched. The government website referral has already resulted in more than 26,000 visits to the Option Line center locator, a total site view increase of 319%, meaning more connections to pregnancy help. Our Director of Government Relations, Jessica Prol Smith, then invited Hill staff to use the website's ZIP code search function to find pregnancy centers in their local district.

Heartbeat submits testimony to U.S. House Judiciary Committee

On June 9, 2026, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee held a hearing assessing the role that the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has played in distorting civil rights policy and manufacturing division. Witnesses and Members argued that the SPLC may once have been a more honest advocate for the vulnerable but has clearly lost its way.

Heartbeat submitted public written testimony expressing how the SPLC's defamatory and biased treatment of the pregnancy help community creates the implicit justification for violent attacks, smear campaigns, corporate discrimination, and legal harassment. Others addressed how the SPLC has weaponized its advocacy to deplatform conservative and Christian organizations, failed to address the pro-abortion terrorism led by Jane's Revenge, and irresponsibly sidelined pro-life advocates. Heartbeat's testimony noted that affiliates will continue to offer resources and support — even in the face of political hostility — but also argued that the country will be a better place if the organizations fomenting such hostility are held accountable.