I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8501 
To prohibit abortion sanctuary States from receiving funds from the 
Department of Health and Human Services, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2022 
Mr. LAMBORN (for himself, Mr. BANKS, Mrs. BOEBERT, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. 
WEBER of Texas, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. BABIN, Mr. GOOD of Virginia, Mrs. 
MILLER of Illinois, Mr. HICE of Georgia, and Mr. NORMAN) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, 
Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit abortion sanctuary States from receiving funds 
from the Department of Health and Human 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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preventing Abortion 
Sanctuaries Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITING ABORTION SANCTUARY STATES 
FROM RECEIVING CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDS. 
(a) FINDING.—Congress has the authority to enact 
this Act pursuant to its powers under the Commerce 
Clause of Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution of the 
United States, which includes the power to regulate those 
activities having substantial relation to interstate com-
merce and activities that substantially affect interstate 
commerce in the aggregate. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—None of the funds made available 
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services may be 
used to provide funds to any abortion sanctuary State. 
(c) 
ANNUAL
DETERMINATION
OF
INELIGIBLE 
STATES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall— 
(1) determine which States are ineligible based 
on the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(2); and 
(2) submit a list of such ineligible States, in-
cluding the specific criteria in subsection (d)(2) upon 
which each such determination was based, to Con-
gress. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘abortion’’ means the use or pre-
scription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any 
other substance or device— 
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(A) to intentionally kill the unborn child of 
a woman known to be pregnant; or 
(B) to intentionally terminate the preg-
nancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with 
an intention other than— 
(i) after viability to produce a live 
birth and preserve the life and health of 
the child born alive; or 
(ii) to remove a dead unborn child. 
(2) The term ‘‘abortion sanctuary State’’ means 
a State that— 
(A) establishes a fund or commission (or 
similar entity) for the purpose of providing di-
rect financial and logistical support to individ-
uals traveling to such State to receive an abor-
tion; 
(B) does not have in effect any law with 
regards to gestational protections for an unborn 
child; or 
(C) has in effect laws that prohibit the en-
forcement of a law of another State that au-
thorizes a person to bring a civil action against 
a person or entity that does any of the fol-
lowing: 
(i) Receives or seeks an abortion. 
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(ii) Performs or induces an abortion. 
(iii) Knowingly engages in conduct 
that aids or abets the performance or in-
ducement of an abortion. 
(iv) Attempts or intends to engage in 
conduct described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii). 
(3) The term ‘‘logistical support’’ means direct 
assistance, such as airfare, lodging, ground trans-
portation, gas money, meals, or dependent childcare, 
to help a person access or obtain an abortion. 
(4) The term ‘‘unborn child’’ means a member 
of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of develop-
ment, who is carried in the womb. 
Æ 
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