I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 846 
To prohibit disinformation in the advertising of abortion services, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 31, 2025 
Ms. BONAMICI (for herself, Mrs. SYKES, Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. 
ADAMS, Ms. TITUS, Mr. EVANS of Pennsylvania, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. 
SWALWELL, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. DELBENE, Ms. NOR-
TON, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. LEGER 
FERNANDEZ, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. MCCOL-
LUM, Mr. COHEN, Ms. BROWNLEY, Ms. JACOBS, Ms. BALINT, Ms. 
BUDZINSKI, Mr. CASAR, Ms. MCCLELLAN, Mrs. TRAHAN, Ms. CHU, Ms. 
DEGETTE, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. TONKO, Ms. 
JAYAPAL, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mrs. MCIVER, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. 
TORRES of New York, Mr. MAGAZINER, Ms. PETTERSEN, Ms. WILSON 
of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, 
Mrs. FLETCHER, Ms. ANSARI, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. BYNUM, Ms. 
SALINAS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, 
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Ms. DEXTER, Ms. MORRISON, and Ms. LEE of 
Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To prohibit disinformation in the advertising of abortion 
services, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Antiabortion 
Disinformation Act’’ or the ‘‘SAD Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Abortion services are an essential compo-
nent of reproductive health care. 
(2) After decades of escalating attacks on abor-
tion rights, on June 24, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson 
Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court 
overruled Roe v. Wade, reversing decades of prece-
dent recognizing a constitutional right to abortion 
and permitting decimation of an already precarious 
landscape of access to abortion. 
(3) The effects were immediate and disastrous. 
As of January 2025, abortion is unavailable in 14 
States, leaving 17.9 million women, as well as 
transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, 
of reproductive age (ages 15 to 49), without access 
to abortion in the home State of such individuals. 
(4) Travel time to an abortion clinic, already 
burdensome under Roe, has quadrupled since Dobbs, 
as scores of clinics in already underserved areas 
have been forced to close and more patients have 
been forced to travel to other States (with over 
170,000 people traveling out of State for care in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2023 alone). As distance to an abortion facility in-
creases, so do the accompanying burdens of time off 
from work or school, lost wages, transportation 
costs, lodging, child care costs, and other ancillary 
costs. 
(5) These burdens do not fall equally. Since 
Dobbs and additional State bans and restrictions on 
abortion care have taken effect, data shows that 
women with low incomes and women of color have 
experienced the largest increase in travel times to 
abortion clinics. This is particularly burdensome for 
women and pregnant people of color in the South, 
the area of the country that has seen the highest in-
creases in travel time. 
(6) The freedom to decide whether and when to 
have a child is key to the ability of an individual to 
participate fully in our democracy. 
(7) Unfortunately, rampant misinformation and 
disinformation have affected the ability of people to 
access needed abortion care. Crisis pregnancy cen-
ters (CPCs) often disseminate and promote inac-
curate information about abortion and contracep-
tion. 
(8) CPCs are antiabortion organizations that 
present themselves as comprehensive reproductive 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
health care providers with the intent of shaming, de-
ceiving, or discouraging pregnant people from having 
abortions. 
(9) According to the Journal of Medical Inter-
net Research (JMIR) Public Health and Surveil-
lance, there are more than 2,500 CPCs in the 
United States, though some antiabortion groups 
claim that the number is closer to 4,000. 
(10) According to 2020 data from JMIR Public 
Health and Surveillance, CPCs outnumber abortion 
clinics nationwide by an average of 3 to 1. In some 
States, this statistic is higher. For example, The Al-
liance: State Advocates for Women’s Rights & Gen-
der Equality (The Alliance) found that in Pennsyl-
vania, CPCs outnumber abortion clinics by 9 to 1. 
The Alliance also found that in Minnesota, CPCs 
outnumber abortion clinics by 11 to 1. 
(11) CPCs routinely engage in a variety of de-
ceptive tactics, including— 
(A) making false claims about reproductive 
health care and providers; 
(B) disseminating inaccurate, misleading, 
and stigmatizing information about the risks of 
abortion and contraception; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(C) using illegitimate or false citations to 
imply that deceptive claims are supported by le-
gitimate medical sources. 
(12) CPCs typically advertise themselves as 
providers of comprehensive health care. However, 
most CPCs in the United States do not employ li-
censed medical personnel or provide referrals for 
birth control or abortion care. 
(13) Most CPCs are not Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-covered 
entities, but many deceptively claim to be compliant 
with HIPAA in order to collect sensitive information 
and mislead pregnant people about the privacy prac-
tices and obligations of CPCs. CPCs have been 
found to disclose the health data of pregnant people, 
including to law enforcement. 
(14) By using these deceptive tactics, CPCs 
prevent people from accessing reproductive health 
care, intentionally delay access to time-sensitive 
abortion services, and can subject people to harmful 
interactions with law enforcement. The consequences 
of these tactics and delays are far greater in the 
wake of Dobbs. 
(15) CPCs target under-resourced neighbor-
hoods and communities of color, including Black, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American, Pacific Is-
lander, and immigrant communities, by locating 
CPCs near social services centers and comprehensive 
reproductive health care providers. CPCs place ad-
vertisements in these neighborhoods that mislead 
and draw people away from nearby providers that 
offer evidence-based sexual and reproductive health 
care, including abortion care. This exacerbates exist-
ing health barriers and delays access to time-sen-
sitive care. 
(16) People are entitled to honest, accurate, 
and timely information when seeking reproductive 
health care. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON DISINFORMATION RELATING TO 
ABORTION SERVICES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any per-
son to engage in deceptive advertising about the reproduc-
tive health services offered by the person, including adver-
tising that misrepresents that the person— 
(1) offers or provides contraception or abortion 
services (or referrals for such contraception or abor-
tion services); or 
(2) employs or offers access to licensed medical 
personnel. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(b) RULEMAKING.—The Commission may promul-
gate, under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, 
any regulations the Commission determines necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSION.— 
(1) UNFAIR
OR
DECEPTIVE
ACTS
OR
PRAC-
TICES.—A violation of this section or a regulation 
promulgated pursuant to this section shall be treated 
as a violation of a regulation under section 
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
(15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or decep-
tive acts or practices. 
(2) POWERS OF COMMISSION.—Except as other-
wise provided in paragraph (3), the Commission 
shall enforce this section and any regulation promul-
gated pursuant to this section in the same manner, 
by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, 
powers, and duties as though all applicable terms 
and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act 
were incorporated into and made a part of this sec-
tion, and any person who violates this section or a 
regulation promulgated pursuant to this section shall 
be subject to the penalties and entitled to the privi-
leges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade 
Commission Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(3) 
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS.—Notwith-
standing section 4, 5(a)(2), or 6 of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44; 45(a)(2); 46) 
or any jurisdictional limitation of the Commission, 
the Commission shall also enforce this section and 
any regulation promulgated pursuant to this section 
in the same manner provided in paragraphs (1) and 
(2) with respect to organizations not organized to 
carry on business for their own profit or that of 
their members. 
(4) INDEPENDENT LITIGATION AUTHORITY.— 
(A) CIVIL ACTION BY COMMISSION.—If the 
Commission has reason to believe that a person 
has violated this section or a regulation promul-
gated pursuant to this section, the Commission 
may bring a civil action in any appropriate 
United States district court for any of the fol-
lowing remedies: 
(i) To enjoin any further such viola-
tion by such person. 
(ii) To enforce compliance with this 
section or a regulation promulgated pursu-
ant to this section. 
(iii) To obtain a permanent, tem-
porary, or preliminary injunction. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(iv) To obtain civil penalties. 
(v) To obtain damages, restitution, or 
other compensation on behalf of aggrieved 
consumers. 
(vi) To obtain any other appropriate 
equitable relief. 
(B) EXCLUSIVE
AUTHORITY
OF
COMMIS-
SION.— 
(i) EXCLUSIVE
AUTHORITY.—Except 
as otherwise provided in section 16(a)(3) 
of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 
U.S.C. 56(a)(3)), the Commission shall 
have exclusive authority to commence or 
defend, and supervise the litigation of, any 
civil action under this section and any ap-
peal of such action, in its own name by 
any of its attorneys, designated by it for 
such purpose, unless the Commission au-
thorizes the Attorney General to do so. 
(ii) RELATION
TO
ATTORNEY
GEN-
ERAL.—The Commission shall inform the 
Attorney General of the exercise of such 
authority, and such exercise shall not pre-
clude the Attorney General from inter-
vening on behalf of the United States in 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
such action and any appeal of such action 
as may be otherwise provided by law. 
(d) CIVIL PENALTY.—In addition to any other pen-
alty as may be prescribed by law, any person who violates 
this section or a regulation promulgated pursuant this sec-
tion shall be punishable by a civil penalty for each such 
violation that shall not exceed the greater of— 
(1) $100,000 (to be adjusted annually for infla-
tion based on the change in the Consumer Price 
Index); or 
(2) 50 percent of the revenue earned by the ul-
timate parent entity of a person during the pre-
ceding 12-month period. 
(e) REPORTS.—Beginning 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Commission shall submit to Congress a report that in-
cludes (with respect to the previous year) a description 
of— 
(1) any enforcement action by the Commission 
under this Act; 
(2) the outcome of any such action; and 
(3) any regulation promulgated pursuant to this 
Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(f) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this Act may be 
construed to limit the authority of the Commission under 
any other provision of law. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) ABORTION SERVICES.—The term ‘‘abortion 
services’’ means an abortion or any medical or non- 
medical service related to or provided in conjunction 
with an abortion, whether or not provided at the 
same time or on the same day as the abortion. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Trade Commission. 
(3) PERSON.—The term ‘‘person’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 551(2) of title 5, 
United States Code. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:01 Feb 28, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H846.IH
H846
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS