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Pierce's eugenic advocacy was further motivated by the activism of his third wife Cornelia, who along with Bethine Owens-Adair supported the 1923 sterilization bill.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> When he was later elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from the state's 2nd congressional district, Pierce introduced legislation to permit the dissemination of contraception literature via mail; such efforts to modify the Comstock Act were praised by [[Margaret Sanger]]. McCoy states of the Pierces' motives:<ref>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411.</ref>

Pierce's eugenic advocacy was further motivated by the activism of his third wife Cornelia, who along with Bethine Owens-Adair supported the 1923 sterilization bill.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> When he was later elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from the state's 2nd congressional district, Pierce introduced legislation to permit the dissemination of contraception literature via mail; such efforts to modify the Comstock Act were praised by [[Margaret Sanger]]. McCoy states of the Pierces' motives:<ref>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411.</ref>

{{cquote|Both Cornelia and Walter advocated for sterilization of the unfit and the creation of a fit white race through birth control. Both sides of eugenics rest on the premise that only those deemed fit to propagate the race should be allowed to live or procreate. Unlike the radical democratic populism that Pierce backed through most of his life, his adherence to the tenets of eugenics exposed a side of politics that elevated certain groups into a position of political and economic power based on their race and physical capabilities.|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411}}

{{cquote|Both Cornelia and Walter advocated for sterilization of the unfit and the creation of a fit white race through birth control. Both sides of eugenics rest on the premise that only those deemed fit to propagate the race should be allowed to live or procreate. Unlike the radical democratic populism that Pierce backed through most of his life, his adherence to the tenets of eugenics exposed a side of politics that elevated certain groups into a position of political and economic power based on their race and physical capabilities.|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411}}

Comstock laws identified birth control with obscenity and therefore banned its propagation through mail. In 1933, Pierce reintroduced a "Doctor's Bill" which would amend criminal code sections to circumvent Comstock Act provisions by declaring that prohibitions on obscenity cannot apply to contraception.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79>"Walter M. Pierce and the Birth Control Movement," pp. 372-79.</ref> He contacted Margaret Sanger to request support from the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control, and subsequent lectures by Sanger led to increased apparent willingness from senators and representatives in support of Pierce's bill. However, continued opposed the legislation, particularly from Catholics, ensured its defeat in Congress.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79/>

Comstock laws identified birth control with obscenity and therefore banned its propagation through mail. In 1933, Pierce reintroduced a "Doctor's Bill" which would amend criminal code sections to circumvent Comstock Act provisions by declaring that prohibitions on obscenity cannot apply to contraception.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79>"Walter M. Pierce and the Birth Control Movement," pp. 372-79.</ref> He contacted Margaret Sanger to request support from the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control, and subsequent lectures by Sanger led to increased apparent willingness from senators and representatives in support of Pierce's bill. However, continued opposed the legislation, particularly from Catholics, ensured its defeat in Congress.<ref name=schwartz,pp.372-79/>