HR 2497

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 31, 2025

Ms. Crockett (for herself, Mr. Goldman of New York, Ms. McClellan, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Ross, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Torres of New York, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. Gottheimer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a public health education, awareness, and outreach campaign to enhance access to abortion and related health services.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON ACCESS TO ABORTION AND RELATED HEALTH SERVICES.

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:

“SEC. 399V-8. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON ACCESS TO ABORTION AND RELATED HEALTH SERVICES.

“(a) In General.—The Secretary shall carry out a coordinated, focused, national public health education, awareness, and outreach campaign to enhance access to abortion and related health services.

“(b) Campaign Requirements.—The campaign under subsection (a) shall—

“(1) include education, awareness, and outreach regarding—

“(A) where and how to access abortion, including medication abortion such as mifepristone and misoprostol, and related health services, consistent with applicable State and Federal laws, including through—

“(i) in-person services; and

“(ii) telehealth;

“(B) the legality and availability of prescribing, dispensing, and receiving abortion, medication abortion such as mifepristone and misoprostol, and other related health services, consistent with applicable State and Federal laws;

“(C) medically accurate and complete information about abortion, including medication abortion such as mifepristone and misoprostol;

“(D) the rights of patients to legally travel across State lines to obtain abortion and related health services and information on organizations available to help support patients needing to travel for care;

“(E) how to differentiate facilities commonly known as anti-abortion centers or crisis pregnancy centers from facilities that actually provide abortion and related health services, including how to identify—

“(i) inaccurate or misleading claims by such centers about reproductive health care; and

“(ii) inaccurate, misleading, or stigmatizing information disseminated by such centers about abortion and contraception;

“(F) how to identify disinformation campaigns and misinformation regarding abortion and related health services, including medication abortion, intended to deceive or discourage individuals from accessing such services; and

“(G) how to protect sensitive personal and health information from misuse and surveillance;

“(2) make the information required by paragraph (1) available on the Department of Health and Human Services website; and

“(3) be designed to ensure cultural competency, efficacy, and accessibility for and within underserved communities, including—

“(A) communities of color;

“(B) immigrants;

“(C) people with disabilities;

“(D) people with limited English proficiency;

“(E) people with low incomes;

“(F) young people;

“(G) LGBTQI+ people;

“(H) people living in rural or other medically underserved areas; and

“(I) people living on Tribal land or receiving care through the Indian Health Service.

“(c) Campaign Limitations.—In carrying out the campaign under subsection (a), the Secretary shall not—

“(1) promote misinformation regarding the safety of abortion and related health services, including medication abortion;

“(2) promote misinformation regarding ‘abortion reversal’;

“(3) promote abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, also referred to as sexual risk avoidance education programs, or other programs that are not comprehensive or medically accurate; or

“(4) collect, retain, use, or disclose personal information about visitors to any website, app, or other educational or campaign resource.

“(d) Consultation.—In carrying out the campaign under subsection

(a), the Secretary shall consult with—

“(1) licensed health care professionals who are experts in—

“(A) sexual and reproductive health; and

“(B) abortion and related health services, including medication abortion;

“(2) nonprofit organizations whose missions are focused on expanding reproductive rights, reproductive health, and reproductive justice, including funds to access abortion;

“(3) State and local public health departments; and

“(4) nonprofit institutions of higher education.

“(e) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) The term ‘abortion and related health services’ means abortion and any services related to, and provided in conjunction with, an abortion, whether or not provided at the same time or on the same day as the abortion.

“(2) The term ‘medically accurate and complete information’ means information that is—

“(A) relevant to informed decision making based on current scientific evidence;

“(B) derived from research using accepted scientific methods;

“(C) consistent with generally recognized scientific theory, as demonstrated by publication in peer-reviewed journals (if available) or otherwise; and

“(D) recognized as accurate, objective, and complete by mainstream professional medical organizations such as the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association, and scientific advisory groups such as the Institute of Medicine.”. <all>