This bill aims to protect entities that do not participate in abortion services by amending the Public Health Service Act. It prohibits the Federal Government and any individual or entity receiving Federal financial assistance, including State and local governments, from discriminating against, penalizing, or retaliating against organizations that offer life-affirming support and resources to women facing unexpected pregnancies or provide alternatives to abortion. The legislation specifically outlines several prohibited actions , such as requiring an entity to offer or perform an abortion, distribute abortion-inducing drugs, refer for abortions, or counsel in favor of them. It also prevents prohibiting an entity from providing pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting services solely because they do not participate in abortion. The bill defines "life-affirming alternatives" as programs promoting childbirth through social service providers like pregnancy centers, adoption assistance providers, and maternity homes. To strengthen enforcement, the bill establishes a new civil action allowing the Attorney General or any adversely affected individual or entity to seek relief for violations. This relief can include injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and compensatory damages, as well as reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs for prevailing plaintiffs. Such actions can be brought against governmental entities, and administrative remedies are not required to be exhausted before filing suit.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Health
Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025
USA119th CongressHR-2226| House
| Updated: 3/18/2025
This bill aims to protect entities that do not participate in abortion services by amending the Public Health Service Act. It prohibits the Federal Government and any individual or entity receiving Federal financial assistance, including State and local governments, from discriminating against, penalizing, or retaliating against organizations that offer life-affirming support and resources to women facing unexpected pregnancies or provide alternatives to abortion. The legislation specifically outlines several prohibited actions , such as requiring an entity to offer or perform an abortion, distribute abortion-inducing drugs, refer for abortions, or counsel in favor of them. It also prevents prohibiting an entity from providing pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting services solely because they do not participate in abortion. The bill defines "life-affirming alternatives" as programs promoting childbirth through social service providers like pregnancy centers, adoption assistance providers, and maternity homes. To strengthen enforcement, the bill establishes a new civil action allowing the Attorney General or any adversely affected individual or entity to seek relief for violations. This relief can include injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and compensatory damages, as well as reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs for prevailing plaintiffs. Such actions can be brought against governmental entities, and administrative remedies are not required to be exhausted before filing suit.