I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4281 
To establish the Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well-Being 
within the Department of Health and Human Services, to generate 
a whole-of-government approach to protecting and affirming sexual and 
reproductive rights, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 22, 2023 
Ms. BUSH (for herself, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. TLAIB, Ms. CLARKE of 
New York, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. BOWMAN, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE, Ms. PRESSLEY, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To establish the Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health 
and Well-Being within the Department of Health and 
Human Services, to generate a whole-of-government ap-
proach to protecting and affirming sexual and reproduc-
tive rights, 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 ‘‘Protect Sexual and 
Reproductive Health Act of 2023’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 2. SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND WELL- 
BEING; REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND EQUITY 
GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by inserting after title 
XXXIII of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300mm et seq.) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘TITLE XXXIV—SEXUAL AND RE-
PRODUCTIVE 
HEALTH 
AND 
WELL-BEING 
‘‘SEC. 3401. OFFICE OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE 
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Office of Population Af-
fairs in the Department of Health and Human Services 
is hereby redesignated as the Office of Sexual and Repro-
ductive Health and Well-Being (in this section referred to 
as the ‘Office’), to be headed by a Director of National 
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well-Being (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Director’). The Director shall 
be appointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director shall have re-
sponsibility for overseeing activities that promote sexual 
and reproductive health and well-being, including— 
‘‘(1) funding, conducting, and publicly dissemi-
nating the findings of, research on policies, pro-
grams, infrastructure, and other investments that 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
ports made by recipients of grants under sec-
tion 3403; 
‘‘(D) leading activities to engage the pub-
lic, including publicly available listening ses-
sions with affected communities; 
‘‘(E) coordinating with other Federal de-
partments and agencies, as appropriate, to de-
velop guidelines and recommendations for 
health care providers to implement best prac-
tices for protecting sexual and reproductive 
health and well-being; 
‘‘(F) supporting and helping to coordinate 
interagency initiatives that advance, streamline, 
and otherwise implement research programs, 
services, and activities that protect and increase 
access to sexual and reproductive health and 
well-being; 
‘‘(G) administering grant programs that 
support State governments, local governments, 
and community-based organizations in pro-
tecting and increasing access to sexual and re-
productive health and well-being research pro-
grams, services, and activities; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(H) consulting with the Attorney General 
and the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission 
to develop strategies to— 
‘‘(i) protect consumers’ privacy when 
seeking provision of, or information about, 
sexual and reproductive health care serv-
ices; and 
‘‘(ii) strengthen the protection of sen-
sitive information related to sexual and re-
productive health care services and bolster 
patient-provider confidentiality; 
‘‘(4) carrying out community outreach pro-
grams to— 
‘‘(A) inform local communities about the 
Office; and 
‘‘(B) notify potential grants recipients of 
funding opportunities; and 
‘‘(5) submitting to Congress reports in accord-
ance with subsection (d). 
‘‘(c) SRHW STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) CONTENT.—The SRHW Strategy shall— 
‘‘(A) identify areas to develop and imple-
ment a sexual and reproductive health frame-
work that moves beyond a biomedical model of 
health to include services with respect to health, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
well-being, economic stability, and freedom from 
discrimination; 
‘‘(B) include recommendations— 
‘‘(i) to integrate sexual and reproduc-
tive health equity and reproductive justice 
into processes and policies used, and pro-
grams provided, by Federal agencies; 
‘‘(ii) to remove Federal barriers to full 
reproductive autonomy; and 
‘‘(iii) to support patient-centered care 
models in hospitals, Federally qualified 
health centers, and entities eligible to re-
ceive funds under title X; 
‘‘(C) with respect to the recommendations 
under subparagraph (B), include goals that are 
comprehensive, research-based, and long-range; 
and 
‘‘(D) include short-term measurable goals 
to promote sexual and reproductive health and 
well-being that may be realistically achieved. 
‘‘(2) 
CONSULTATION.—In 
developing 
the 
SRHW Strategy, the Director shall consult with— 
‘‘(A) patients and communities; 
‘‘(B) State and local governments; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(C) nonprofit and nongovernmental enti-
ties and community-based organizations. 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this section, and on an annual basis 
thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate, and post on the 
website of the Office, a report containing— 
‘‘(1) a summary of the state of sexual and re-
productive health and well-being in the United 
States; 
‘‘(2) a description of the effectiveness of the 
SRHW Strategy, including a summary of plans for 
implementing Federal policy recommendations; and 
‘‘(3) a detailed description of the actions taken 
by Federal agencies to implement the SRHW Strat-
egy. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) PATIENT-CENTERED
CARE.—The term 
‘patient-centered care’ refers to a health care philos-
ophy where— 
‘‘(A) the health needs and desired health 
outcomes of a patient are the driving force be-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
hind all health care decisions and quality meas-
urements; and 
‘‘(B) patients are partners with health care 
providers and such providers consider, with re-
spect to a patient, clinical, emotional, mental, 
spiritual, social, and financial perspectives. 
‘‘(2) REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.—The term ‘re-
productive health’— 
‘‘(A) means a state of complete physical, 
mental, and social well-being; and 
‘‘(B) includes all matters relating to the 
reproductive system and the functions and proc-
esses of such system, and ensuring that an indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(i) is able to have a satisfying and 
safe sex life; and 
‘‘(ii) possesses the capability to repro-
duce and the freedom to decide if, when, 
and how often to reproduce. 
‘‘(3) REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.—The term ‘re-
productive justice’ means— 
‘‘(A) the human right to maintain personal 
bodily autonomy; 
‘‘(B) the ability to choose whether to have 
children; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(C) the ability to parent children in safe 
and sustainable communities. 
‘‘(4) SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND 
WELL-BEING.—The term ‘sexual and reproductive 
health and well-being’ includes having access to 
trauma-informed, culturally sensitive services and 
support to attain the highest level of sexual and re-
productive health. 
‘‘(5) SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EQ-
UITY.—The term ‘sexual and reproductive health eq-
uity’ means a health policy framework that— 
‘‘(A) ensures that individuals (including in-
dividuals across a range of age, gender, race, 
and other identities) have what is necessary to 
attain the highest level of sexual and reproduc-
tive health including having self-determination 
and the ability to achieve reproductive goals; 
and 
‘‘(B) includes government policies that 
value and support individuals fairly and justly. 
‘‘SEC. 3402. INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL AND 
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary and the Di-
rector of the Gender Policy Council, acting jointly, shall 
establish and maintain an interagency task force to be 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
known as the Interagency Task Force on Sexual and Re-
productive Health and Well-Being (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Task Force’) to coordinate and promote Fed-
eral programs and activities related to sexual and repro-
ductive health and well-being. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERS.—The Task Force shall be composed 
of the following members (or their designees): 
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, who shall serve as a Co-Chair of the Task 
Force. 
‘‘(2) The Director of the Gender Policy Council, 
who shall serve as a Co-Chair of the Task Force. 
‘‘(3) The Attorney General of the United 
States. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary of Education. 
‘‘(6) The Secretary of Labor. 
‘‘(7) The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency. 
‘‘(8) The Secretary of Transportation. 
‘‘(9) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(10) The Secretary of the Interior. 
‘‘(11) The Secretary of State. 
‘‘(12) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(13) The Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(14) The Secretary of the Treasury. 
‘‘(15) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(16) The Secretary of Energy. 
‘‘(17) The Chair of the Federal Trade Commis-
sion. 
‘‘(18) The heads of other Federal departments 
and agencies, as determined necessary by the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services and Director 
of the Gender Policy Council. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 
‘‘(1) identify and coordinate activities to protect 
and strengthen access to essential reproductive 
health care and support services, and promote sexual 
and reproductive health and well-being; 
‘‘(2) coordinate Federal interagency policy-
making, program development, and outreach ef-
forts— 
‘‘(A) to address barriers that individuals 
and entities may face in seeking and providing 
reproductive health care services; and 
‘‘(B) to promote and protect sexual and re-
productive health and well-being; 
‘‘(3) on an annual basis, conduct a comprehen-
sive equity-focused assessment of all Federal funds 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
allocated for, and all Federal programs that support, 
sexual and reproductive health and well-being; 
‘‘(4) facilitate ongoing efforts to provide and 
support a whole-of-government approach to pro-
tecting and promoting sexual and reproductive 
health and well-being; and 
‘‘(5) support implementation of the SRHW 
Strategy by— 
‘‘(A) developing agency-specific implemen-
tation and accountability plans; and 
‘‘(B) tracking and reporting, on an annual 
basis, information related to the Task Force’s 
activities, assessments, and policy recommenda-
tions for protecting and improving sexual and 
reproductive health and well-being. 
‘‘(d) MEETINGS.—For the purpose of carrying out 
this section, the Task Force may hold such meetings, and 
sit and act at such times and places, as the Task Force 
considers appropriate. 
‘‘(e) INFORMATION.—The Task Force may secure di-
rectly from any Federal agency such information as may 
be necessary to enable the Task Force to carry out this 
section. Upon request of the Co-Chairs of the Task Force, 
the head of such agency shall furnish such information 
to the Task Force. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘SEC. 3403. REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND EQUITY GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to eligible entities to pay for programs and services 
related to improving patient access to sexual and repro-
ductive health care. 
‘‘(b) TIMING.—Beginning not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall solicit applications for grants under this section. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant to pay for 
programs and services related to improving patient access 
to sexual and reproductive health care, which may include 
any of the following: 
‘‘(1) Mobile sexual and reproductive health care 
clinics. 
‘‘(2) Travel expenses. 
‘‘(3) Lodging. 
‘‘(4) Food assistance. 
‘‘(5) Childcare. 
‘‘(6) Translation services. 
‘‘(7) Doula care. 
‘‘(8) Patient education and information serv-
ices. 
‘‘(9) Direct financial assistance. 
‘‘(10) Housing assistance. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(11) Legal aid. 
‘‘(12) Comprehensive sex education. 
‘‘(13) Medical costs. 
‘‘(14) Behavioral health counseling. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In selecting the recipients of grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligi-
ble entities that— 
‘‘(1) serve people who live in a jurisdiction that 
has banned or severely restricted access to abortion; 
‘‘(2) serve people who travel to a jurisdiction 
other than the one where they live to be provided 
abortion services; or 
‘‘(3) have a program in operation, or submit as 
part of the application required under subsection (d) 
a plan to establish and operate a program, to help 
patients access abortion services. 
‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘eligible entity’— 
‘‘(A) means a nonprofit organization, or a 
community-based organization, that assists in-
dividuals seeking an abortion through pro-
grams, services, or activities that are unbiased 
and medically and factually accurate; and 
‘‘(B) excludes any entity that discourages 
individuals from seeking an abortion. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
‘‘(2) The term ‘nonprofit organization’ means 
an organization that— 
‘‘(A) is described in subsection (c)(3) of 
section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986; and 
‘‘(B) is, under subsection (a) of such sec-
tion, exempt from taxation. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 
through 2028.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING CHANGES; REFERENCES.— 
(1) REPEALS.—Sections 3 and 4 of the Family 
Planning Services and Population Research Act of 
1970 (42 U.S.C. 3505a, 3505b) are hereby repealed. 
(2) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Office 
of Population Affairs of the Department of Health 
and Human Services or the Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary of Population Affairs in any law, rule, regula-
tion, certificate, directive, instruction, or other offi-
cial paper in force on the effective date of this Act 
shall be deemed to refer and apply to the Office of 
National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Well- 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
16:08 Jul 30, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4281.IH
H4281
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB