Proposed US legislation
Women’s Health Protection Act Long title An Act to protect a person's ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy, and to protect a health care provider's ability to provide abortion services. Acronyms (colloquial) WHPA
The Women's Health Protection Act (H.R. 12 ) is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States House of Representatives , aimed at expanding abortion rights established in Roe v. Wade Planned Parenthood v. Casey Congresswoman Judy Chu and sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal . In the 117th Congress , the act was re-introduced in response to Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization House of Representatives by a vote of 218–211,[ 1] [ 2] Senate on a 46–48 vote in February 2022[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Among key facets of the bill include preventing state and local governments from regulating abortions before fetal viability , or when the mother's life or health is at risk after fetal viability, and preventing government from restricting access to abortion services unless a compelling state interest has been shown in such restrictions. Violations would be investigated and prosecuted by the Department of Justice .
Legislative history
As of July 10, 2024:
Congress
Short title
Bill number(s)
Date introduced
Sponsor(s)
# of cosponsors
Latest status
113th Congress
Women's Health Protection Act of 2013
H.R. 3471
November 11, 2013
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
132
Died in committee.
S. 1696
November 11, 2013
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
35
Died in committee.
114th Congress
Women's Health Protection Act of 2015
H.R. 448
January 21, 2015
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
146
Died in committee.
S. 217
January 21, 2015
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
35
Died in committee.
115th Congress
Women's Health Protection Act of 2017
H.R. 1322
March 2, 2017
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
169
Died in committee.
S. 510
March 2, 2017
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
42
Died in committee.
116th Congress
Women’s Health Protection Act of 2019
H.R. 2975
May 23, 2019
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
217
Died in committee.
S. 1645
May 23, 2019
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
43
Died in committee.
117th Congress
Women's Health Protection Act of 2021
H.R. 3755
June 8, 2021
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
215
Cloture not invoked (46-48).
S. 1975
June 8, 2021
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
47
Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction.
Women's Health Protection Act of 2022
H.R. 8296
June 7, 2022
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
3
Passed the House (219-210).
S. 4132
May 3, 2022
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
0
Cloture not invoked (49-51).
118th Congress
Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023
H.R. 12
March 30, 2023
Judy Chu
(D-CA)
215
Referred to Subcommittee on Health (April 7, 2023)
S. 701
March 8, 2023
Tammy Baldwin
(D-WI)
49
Second reading (March 9, 2023)
See also
References
^ Chu, Judy (2021-09-21). "H.R.3755 – 117th Congress (2021–2022): Women's Health Protection Act of 2021" . Congress.gov . Retrieved 2021-09-24 . ^ Shabad, Rebecca (2022-07-15). "House passes bills to protect abortion rights; Senate GOP to block the legislation" . CNBC . Retrieved 2024-04-25 . ^ Kapur, Sahil; Vitali, Ali (February 28, 2022). "Senate rejects Democratic bill to codify abortion rights" . NBC News . Retrieved May 3, 2022 . ^ Morgan, David; Cowan, Richard (2021-09-24). "U.S. House passes abortion rights bill, outlook poor in Senate" . Reuters . Retrieved 2021-09-24 . ^ Franck, Thomas (2021-09-24). "House passes bill to protect abortion rights in response to restrictive Texas law" . CNBC . Retrieved 2021-09-24 . ^ Hulse, Carl (2021-09-24). "House approves measure to protect abortion rights amid threats from states and the courts" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-09-24 . ^ Shivaram, Deepa (2022-05-11). "A bill to codify abortion protections fails in the Senate" . NPR . Retrieved 2022-07-28 . .svg)
