"West Virginians have seen the true message of the pro-life movement for themselves -- all people deserve to be welcomed in life and protected in law," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life. "AUL commends the legislature for extending their praise to the selfless people in pregnancy centers who care for women and children every day."

Contact: Kristin Hansen, Care Net, 703-554-8742; Kristi Hamrick, Americans United for Life, press@aul.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- Care Net and Americans United for Life joined the West Virginia state legislature this week in praising the work of pregnancy centers. The West Virginia House of Representatives and Senate passed a Resolution Thursday honoring the non-profit organizations throughout the state for their tremendous service to women, children, and the community. West Virginia is the second state this year after South Dakota to pass such a resolution, a model of which was drafted by Americans United for Life (AUL).

"Every day, pregnancy centers in West Virginia are quietly providing care and compassion to women, but seldom are they thanked," said Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde. "Care Net joins the West Virginia legislature in thanking them for their service. Because of pregnancy centers, women facing an unplanned pregnancy can receive practical help and emotional support in carrying their pregnancy to term."

Delahoyde thanked the bill sponsors, AUL, and the Family Policy Council of West Virginia for their leadership on behalf of pregnancy centers. "Care Net is grateful to those who continue to come alongside our movement to champion the quiet, life-saving work of pregnancy centers," she said.

"West Virginians have seen the true message of the pro-life movement for themselves -- all people deserve to be welcomed in life and protected in law," said Dr. Charmaine Yoest, president and CEO of Americans United for Life. "AUL commends the legislature for extending their praise to the selfless people in pregnancy centers who care for women and children every day."

A sample "Joint Resolution Honoring Pregnancy Centers" is available in American United for Life's 2011 Model Legislation & Policy Guide.

Pregnancy centers provide practical help and emotional support to empower those facing unplanned pregnancies to make an informed and life-affirming pregnancy decision. Care Net is a national organization supporting the work of 1,130 pregnancy center in North America.

Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971.