1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I’m writing as a constituent, a mother of two young children, and someone deeply concerned about recent reports that the Trump campaign and affiliated groups are considering policies aimed at dramatically increasing U.S. birth rates. While supporting families is important, this emerging “baby boom agenda” — reportedly including incentives like a “National Medal of Motherhood” and government-funded scholarships reserved for married parents — misses the mark entirely. Women don’t need medals — they need structural change. Healthcare, support, flexibility, and respect. If our government wants to genuinely support families, it must start with affordable childcare, paid parental leave, accessible healthcare (including fertility care), and policies that address our country’s rising maternal mortality rate. Instead, this agenda appears more symbolic than substantive — and worse, rooted in ideology over science. Pushing for increased birth rates without addressing the significant economic, environmental, and social barriers families face is both irresponsible and tone-deaf. Our planet is already under strain from climate change and resource depletion. Meanwhile, middle-income families like mine are barely able to afford raising two children, let alone more. Policies that encourage childbirth while simultaneously restricting reproductive rights, cutting maternal health funding, and ignoring those who don’t fit into a narrow version of “family” are not pro-family — they are controlling. We need inclusive, evidence-based policies that respect the autonomy of all people and support the children we already have. I urge you to speak out against performative pronatalist policies and instead focus on supporting real families, real children, and the long-term health of our society and planet.