# Women's Health Protection Act

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 (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). It was first introduced in 2013 by 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 and later Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In September 2021, it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 218–211, and again by a vote of 219–210 in July 2022, but it was defeated in the Senate on a 46–48 vote in February 2022 and a 49–51 vote in May 2022.
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. |
| 113th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2013 | 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. |
| 114th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2015 | 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. |
| 115th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2017 | 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. |
| 116th Congress | Women’s Health Protection Act of 2019 | 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). |
| 117th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 | S. 1975 | June 8, 2021 | Richard Blumenthal(D-CT) | 47 | Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction. |
| 117th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 | H.R. 8296 | June 7, 2022 | Judy Chu (D-CA) | 3 | Passed the House (219-210). |
| 117th Congress | Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 | 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) |
| 118th Congress | Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023 | S. 701 | March 8, 2023 | Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) | 49 | Second reading (March 9, 2023) |