H.R. 8296 · 117th Congress · House

Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022

In Congress· Received in the Senate.
Introduced
Jul 7, 22
Passed House
Jul 15, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Women's Health Protection Act of 2022

This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services.

Specifically, governments may not limit a provider's ability to

  • prescribe certain drugs,
  • offer abortion services via telemedicine, or
  • immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health.

Furthermore, governments may not require a provider to

  • perform unnecessary medical procedures,
  • provide medically inaccurate information,
  • comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or
  • carry out all services connected to an abortion.

In addition, governments may not (1) require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining such services, or (2) prohibit abortion services before fetal viability or after fetal viability when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health.

The bill also prohibits other governmental measures that are similar to the bill's specified restrictions or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless a government demonstrates that the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means.

The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.

The bill applies to restrictions imposed both prior and subsequent to the bill's enactment.

Previous Versions

00Jul 7, 2022

Women's Health Protection Act of 2022

This bill prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services.

Specifically, governments may not limit a provider's ability to

  • prescribe certain drugs,
  • offer abortion services via telemedicine, or
  • immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health.

Furthermore, governments may not require a provider to

  • perform unnecessary medical procedures,
  • provide medically inaccurate information,
  • comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or
  • carry out all services connected to an abortion.

In addition, governments may not (1) require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining such services, or (2) prohibit abortion services before fetal viability or after fetal viability when a provider determines the pregnancy risks the patient's life or health.

The bill also prohibits other governmental measures that are similar to the bill's specified restrictions or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless a government demonstrates that the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means.

The Department of Justice, individuals, or providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.

The bill applies to restrictions imposed both prior and subsequent to the bill's enactment.

Action Timeline

17
  1. JUL 18, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  2. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H

    Res. 1224. (consideration: CR H6631-6647)

    6631Yea
    6647Nay
    0NV
  3. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    7900, S. 3373, H.R. 8296, H.R. 8297 and H.R. 6538 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  4. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8296.

  5. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  6. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Mrs

    Fischbach moved to recommit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H6646-6647)

    6646Yea
    6647Nay
    0NV
  7. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

  8. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R

    8296, the Chair put the question on the Fischbach motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Fischbach demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  9. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H6660-6661)

    6660Yea
    6661Nay
    0NV
  10. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #359

    209 - 218 (Roll no. 359).

    209Yea
    218Nay
    0NV
  11. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #360

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 219 - 210 (Roll no. 360).

    219Yea
    210Nay
    0NV
  12. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #360

    219 - 210 (Roll no. 360). (text: CR H6631-6634)

    219Yea
    210Nay
    0NV
  13. JUL 15, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  14. JUL 13, 2022Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1224 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7900, S. 3373, H.R. 8296, H.R. 8297 and H.R. 6538 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  15. JUL 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  16. JUL 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  17. JUL 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Committees

1

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Jul 7, 2022

Active