My name is Amy O’Donnell. I serve as Communications Director for Texas Alliance for Life and Board President of Radiance Women’s Center, a pregnancy center in central Texas. I’m here today to testify in support of SB 1388.
Through my role at Radiance, I’ve seen firsthand how critical pregnancy centers are for women facing difficult pregnancies—especially as the abortion industry targets Texas women, seeking to steer them toward illegally trafficked chemical abortion drugs and abortion in other states.
Recently, we worked with a young woman who was strongly leaning toward an abortion when she first came to Radiance. She traveled to New Mexico for an appointment she had already scheduled—but didn’t go through with it. Why? Because before she left, she had visited our center, seen her baby on an ultrasound, and learned there was support available. After seeing the stark contrast between the abortion facility and the compassion she received in Texas, she came back—and chose life for her baby.
Her story highlights why Thriving Texas Families is so vital. This bill ensures that state funds go only to organizations that offer true, life-affirming care—not those who promote, perform, refer for, or facilitate abortion travel or logistics.
While Radiance Women’s Center has applied for funding through Thriving Texas Families, we are not yet a recipient. However, we have relationships with other center directors whose organizations are recipients and I can tell you firsthand that every dollar allocated to this program is life-changing for women who might otherwise feel trapped into choosing abortion. Ensuring that these resources go to ethical, life-affirming providers is critical.
I urge you to vote in favor of SB 1388 to further protect Texas’ pro-life safety net and ensure the integrity of our state’s investment in women and families.