Even in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, no one seems to agree about abortion .

Republican presidential candidates and pro-life organizations are squabbling over a 15-week ban on abortion that has no chance of becoming law, as unborn children continue to die every day.

If a Republican wins the presidency, the federal government will not outlaw abortion nationwide because the Senate will not have the 60 pro-life votes necessary to pass such a proposal into law, regardless of what arbitrary gestational limit organizations such as Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America want candidates to support .

Unfortunately, arguing over a 15-week national ban achieves nothing because it will not become law soon. Ideally, the federal government would outlaw abortion entirely, but donating a box of tissues to a maternity shelter or a crisis pregnancy center does more for the pro-life movement than infighting over proposals with no viable path of becoming law in the next 10 years.

Therefore, presidential candidates should create a workable pro-life agenda, one they can sign into law and save as many little lives as possible.

Candidates can promise to appoint justices who will uphold the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, take executive actions to protect the unborn, and prioritize bipartisan legislation to reduce the demand for abortion.

Without congressional approval, the president could reinstate the Mexico City policy to prevent nongovernmental organizations that support abortion from receiving family planning funding abroad, and it could reinstate the Trump-era Protect Life Rule to prevent abortion providers and referrers from receiving Title X family planning funding. The president could also push for increased Title X funding because it saves taxpayers money.

Additionally, candidates could promise that their Food and Drug Administration would make oral contraceptives available over the counter without a prescription to expand access to birth control for women who want it, something former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley supports . Plus, they could stop the military from paying women's abortion travel expenses.

Also, candidates could support policies that make raising children more affordable since finances factor into some women's decisions to have abortions.

Whether the candidates run on increasing the child tax credit , creating a baby bonus scheme or child allowance, slashing tariffs on baby supplies such as formula , ending the marriage penalty on the earned income tax credit, expanding paid (or at least unpaid ) family leave, cutting healthcare and child care costs, or establishing prenatal child support , presidential candidates have opportunities to pursue legislation to help mothers and unborn children, making abortion less common.

If a presidential candidate pursues a pragmatic pro-life agenda, he or she could make progress on this issue if elected. If not, that pro-life stance is effectively useless.

Tom Joyce ( @TomJoyceSports ) is a political reporter for the New Boston Post in Massachusetts.