H.R. 729

119 HR 729 IH: Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-01-24
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 729  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   January 24, 2025   Mr. Harris of North Carolina  (for himself,  Mr. Clyde ,  Mr. Aderholt ,  Mr. Webster of Florida ,  Mr. Gill of Texas ,  Mrs. Miller of Illinois ,  Mr. Cloud ,  Ms. Hageman ,  Mr. Davidson , and  Mr. Onder ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To prohibit chemical abortions performed without the presence of a healthcare provider, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025  .
2.
Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider present
(a)
Chemical abortions prohibited without a physician present
 Chapter 74  of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in the chapter heading by striking
Partial-Birth  ; and
(2)
by inserting after section 1531 the following:
1532.
Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider physically present
(a)
Offense
Any healthcare provider who, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, who knowingly provides or attempts to provide a chemical abortion—
(1)
without physically examining the patient;
(2)
without being physically present at the location of the chemical abortion; and
(3)
without scheduling a follow-up visit for the patient to occur not more than 14 days after the administration or use of the drug to assess the patient’s physical condition,
 shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. This subsection does not apply to a chemical abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.
(b)
No liability of the patient
A patient upon whom an abortion is performed may not be prosecuted under this section or for a conspiracy to violate this section.
(c)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Abortion drug
The term  abortion drug  means any medicine, drug or any other substance, or any combination of drugs, medicines or substances, when it is used—
(A)
to intentionally kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or
(B)
to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than—
(i)
to produce a live birth; or
(ii)
to remove a dead unborn child.
(2)
Attempts to provide
In this section, the term  attempts to provide , means conduct that, under the circumstances as the actor believes them to be, constitutes a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in a chemical abortion.
(3)
Healthcare provider
The term  healthcare provider  means any person licensed to prescribe prescription drugs under applicable Federal and State laws.
(4)
Provide
In this section, the term  provide , means to dispense or prescribe an abortion drug, or to otherwise make an abortion drug available to a patient.
(5)
Chemical abortion
The term  chemical abortion  refers to the use of an abortion drug to—
(A)
intentionally kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or
(B)
intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than—
(i)
to produce a live birth; or
(ii)
to remove a dead unborn child.
(6)
Unborn child
The term  unborn child  means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens, beginning at fertilization, until the point of being born alive as defined in section 8(b).
(d)
Rule of construction regarding ectopic pregnancy
Nothing in this section shall be construed to have any impact on the treatment of a verified ectopic pregnancy.
(e)
Severability
If any provision of this section or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the remainder of this section and the application of the provisions of the remainder to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendments
(1)
Chapter 74
The table of sections for such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1531 the following:
1532. Chemical abortions prohibited without a healthcare provider physically present.
  .
(2)
Part I
The table of chapters for part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to chapter 74, and inserting the following:
  74.  Abortions  1531    .