Sen. Rubio proposes 'pro-life plan' for 'post-Roe America'

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio (R) proposed steps policymakers could use that “would make a world of difference to parents and children in need” following the repeal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court on Friday.

In an op-ed titled “The Providing for Life Act: A pro-life plan for post-Roe America” in the Washington Examiner on Friday, Rubio proposed expanding the child tax credit, changes to the adoption tax credit and letting new parents pull from their Social Security to finance time off work.

The Supreme Court has returned the power to regulate abortion to the states

Now we need a pro-life plan for post-Roe America

Here is my proposal to support mothers & their children not just before birth but also after
https://t.co/x2AFH116g9

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 24, 2022

“In the same vein, we should let pregnant mothers claim the credit for their unborn children. If we believe babies in the womb are real human beings, our laws should reflect that, especially when it helps some of our society's most vulnerable,” Rubio wrote.

The Senator also proposed making the adoption tax credit fully refundable, saying: “Parents who adopt do a great service to women and children in need and to society in general. But currently, low-income and working-class adoptive families with minimal tax liability go unrecognized for their service. That should change.”

Rubio gave an alternative to making maternity leave mandatory for businesses – letting parents tap Social Security early.

“Policymakers could also ease the burden on families by allowing new parents, biological and adoptive, to pull forward their Social Security benefits to finance time off work,” he wrote.

“People are entitled to those funds one way or another. If they would rather use them for parental leave than retirement, we should allow them to make that choice.”

The piece included other steps like strengthening Child Support Enforcement rules and expanding maternal health via pregnancy centers and a national maternal resources clearinghouse.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has also been pushing for family support in the chamber, quietly gathering support for a monthly cash allowance for parents.