Pregnancy Center Security Act

Bill: 118-s-565
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
Introduced: 2023-02-28
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health facilities and institutions

Sex and reproductive health

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-28
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-28
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Pregnancy Center Security Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants on a competitive basis for upgrading the facilities of pregnancy-help organizations. The bill defines these as organizations that provide services to individuals with unintended pregnancies with the intent of encouraging the individuals to give birth; the definition in the bill excludes, however, organizations that perform or refer for abortions (or affiliates of those organizations).</p> <p>Facility upgrades include installing security systems and making the facilities accessible to people with disabilities.</p> <p>The bill prohibits the use of grant funds for abortion-related services.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 565 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 28, 2023 Mr. Risch (for himself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Rubio , and Mr. Hawley ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to pregnancy-help organizations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pregnancy Center Security Act . 2. Grants for pregnancy-help organizations Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 399V–8. Grants for pregnancy-help organizations (a) In general The Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to pregnancy-help organizations. (b) Use of funds (1) In general A grant awarded under this section shall be used for upgrading the facilities of the pregnancy-help organization receiving such grant, including through— (A) implementing security upgrades, such as by installing security cameras or security systems; or (B) improvements to comply with requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, including regulations promulgated under such Act. (2) Prohibited uses Notwithstanding paragraph (1), no funds from a grant under this section may be— (A) used to perform, assist, counsel, prescribe, refer for, or encourage abortion; or (B) provided by the pregnancy-help organization to any other entity that performs, assists, counsels, prescribes, refers for, or encourages abortion. (c) Definition of pregnancy-help organization In this section, the term pregnancy-help organization — (1) means an organization that seeks to provide a range of services to individuals facing unintended pregnancies, with the intention of encouraging pregnant women to give birth to their unborn children; and (2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), does not include any organization that— (A) performs, assists, counsels, prescribes, refers for, or encourages abortion; or (B) affiliates with any organization that performs, assists, counsels, prescribes, refers for, or encourages abortion. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. .