Bill · H.R. 636· House(119-HR-636)
Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act
- Introduced
- 1/22/2025
- Last activity
- 1/22/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Claudia Tenney
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the ``Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act,'' aims to amend section 248 of title 18 of the United States Code. It focuses on providing penalties and remedies for attacks on specific facilities. These include places of religious worship and facilities that exclusively provide counseling about abortion alternatives. The legislation proposes adjustments to criminal penalties, civil remedies, and punishments for the destruction of property.
Yes
Does this protect the freedom to practise a religion?+6
The bill strengthens protections for religious worship sites through enhanced penalties for attacks.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?+4
The bill increases prison terms for the destruction of religious or abortion-alternative counseling facilities.
The opposite
Does this make abortion easier to get?-3
By providing enhanced legal and financial protections for facilities that exclusively provide abortion-alternative services, the bill may discourage such centers from operating.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Enhanced Criminal Penalties: The bill proposes that for a first offense involving a place of religious worship or a facility exclusively providing abortion-alternative services (that did not involve exclusively a nonviolent physical obstruction), the length of imprisonment shall be not more than 3 years. This is found in Section 2(a).
-
Increased Civil Remedies: The bill adds a provision for $20,000 per violation for conduct involving facilities that exclusively provide abortion-alternative services or involve a place of religious worship. This is found in Section 2(b)(1).
-
Additional Civil Penalties for First Violations: For a first violation that involves a place of religious worship or a facility exclusively providing abortion-alternative services (and did not involve exclusively a nonviolent physical obstruction), the bill adds a $25,000 penalty. This is found in Section 2(b)(2).
-
Stricter Punishment for Property Destruction: The bill amends the law so that if a building is a place of religious worship or a facility exclusively providing abortion-alternative services, a person shall be imprisoned for not less than 7 years for the destruction of such a building. This is found in Section 3.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Religious Freedom+6Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access-3
- 1/22/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House