[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4748 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4748
To provide for national uniformity for reproductive health products.
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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 2, 2022
Mr. Booker (for himself and Ms. Smith) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for national uniformity for reproductive health products.
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 ``Protecting National Access to
Reproductive Care Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
(a) In General.--This section confirms the intention of Congress
that, with respect to reproductive health products approved, licensed,
cleared, or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for specific
uses as described in section 3(c), Federal regulation of such products
has the effect of preempting any State or local law or regulation,
criminal or civil, that has the effect of restricting the use of or
access to any such product.
(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to limit the preemptory effect of the regulation by the Food and Drug
Administration of products that are not reproductive health products.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL UNIFORMITY FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PRODUCTS.
(a) In General.--No State or unit of local government, or State or
local government official or other person acting under color of law may
implement or enforce any law, requirement, prohibition, or limitation
that restricts use or access, or has the effect of restricting use or
access, by any individual to any reproductive health product.
(b) Enforcement.--
(1) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may commence a
civil action in an appropriate district court of the United
States on behalf of the United States against any State or unit
of local government, State or local government official, or
against any other person acting under color of law that
implements or enforces a limitation or requirement that
violates subsection (a). The court shall hold unlawful the
limitation or requirement if it is in violation of subsection
(a).
(2) Private right of action.--
(A) In general.--Any individual or entity,
including any health care provider or patient,
adversely affected by an alleged violation of
subsection (a), may commence a civil action in an
appropriate district court of the United States against
any State or unit of local government, or State or
local government official, or against any other person
acting under color of law who violates subsection (a).
The court shall hold unlawful the limitation or
requirement if it is in violation of subsection (a).
(B) Health care provider.--A health care provider
may commence an action pursuant to subparagraph (A) in
an appropriate district court of the United States for
relief on its own behalf, on behalf of the provider's
staff, or on behalf of the provider's patients who are
or may be adversely affected by an alleged violation of
subsection (a).
(3) Declaratory and equitable relief.--In any action under
this subsection, the court may award appropriate declaratory or
equitable relief, including temporary, preliminary, or
permanent injunctive relief.
(4) Costs.--In any action under this subsection, the court
shall award costs of litigation, as well as reasonable
attorney's fees, to any prevailing plaintiff. A plaintiff shall
not be liable to a defendant for costs or attorney's fees in
any non-frivolous action under this subsection.
(5) Jurisdiction.--The district courts of the United States
shall have exclusive jurisdiction over proceedings under this
Act and shall exercise the same without regard to whether the
party aggrieved shall have exhausted any administrative or
other remedies that may be provided for by law.
(c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``reproductive health
product'' means any drug or device that--
(1) is approved under section 505 or section 515 of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355; 360e),
licensed under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 262), cleared under section 510(k) of the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360(k)), or authorized under
section 513(f)(2) of such Act (21 U.S.C. 360c(f)(2)); and
(2) is used to--
(A) diagnose, prevent, manage, treat, or terminate
pregnancy; or
(B) prevent or manage conditions of the
reproductive system.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--For purposes of carrying out
subsection (b)(1), there is authorized to be appropriated to the
Attorney General $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, to remain available
until expended.
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