Bill · H.R. 798· House(119-HR-798)
Dignity for Aborted Children Act
- Introduced
- 1/28/2025
- Last activity
- 1/28/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Mary Miller
- Cosponsors
- - 8 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Dignity for Aborted Children Act aims to protect the dignity of fetal remains. It requires abortion providers to give patients an informed consent form offering options for the disposal of human fetal tissue. Patients can either take possession of the tissue for interment or cremation or release it back to the provider. If released to the provider, the provider must ensure the tissue is disposed of through interment or cremation within seven days. The bill establishes civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations. Finally, it requires annual reporting from both providers and the Secretary.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill mandates new federal requirements, reporting duties, and penalties for abortion providers under the Public Health Service Act.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+2
The bill requires annual reporting from both providers and the Secretary to Congress regarding abortion and tissue disposal.
The opposite
Does this make abortion easier to get?-4
The bill imposes significant administrative burdens, civil penalties up to $50,000, and potential criminal penalties on abortion providers.
Would women be better off under this?-3
The new documentation, reporting, and disposal mandates may increase the complexity and cost of accessing abortion services.
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?-2
The administrative and legal requirements for abortion providers may create additional barriers for women seeking reproductive services.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Patient Autonomy in Disposal: Patients are provided specific options regarding how their fetal tissue is handled, such as taking possession to arrange for interment or cremation themselves (Section 3(a)(1)(A)).
-
Ensured Final Disposition: For patients who choose to release tissue back to the provider, the law requires that the tissue undergo interment or cremation no later than 7 days after the procedure (Section 3(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Financial Penalties for Providers: Abortion providers that fail to keep required documentation regarding consent forms may face civil monetary penalties up to $50,000 (Section 3(c)(1)).
-
Criminal Liability for Providers: Providers who fail to follow the required disposal methods for tissue released to them can be fined or imprisoned for up to 5 years (Section 3(c)(2)).
-
Administrative Burden: Providers are required to track and submit annual reports including the number of procedures, gestational age, and specific counts of tissue transfers and releases (Section 3(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3Improves Government Transparency+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access-4
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women-3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality-2
- 2/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brian BabinRepublican · Texas
Andy HarrisRepublican · Maryland
Mark HarrisRepublican · North Carolina
Barry MooreRepublican · Alabama
Riley MooreRepublican · West Virginia
Andrew OglesRepublican · Tennessee
Daniel WebsterRepublican · Florida
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas