[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6914 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 310
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6914
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 22, 2024
Received; read the first time
January 23, 2024
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require institutions of higher education to disseminate information
on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant
students, and for other purposes.
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 ``Pregnant Students' Rights Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Female students enrolled at institutions of higher
education and experiencing an unplanned pregnancy may face
pressure that their only option is to receive an abortion or
risk academic failure.
(2) Almost 30 percent of all abortions in the United States
are performed on women of college age, between the ages of 20
and 24, according to a 2021 report by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
(3) Scientific evidence and personal testimonies document
that women who have abortions can be at risk of mental health
issues. Studies show that after an abortion, women are 34
percent more likely to develop anxiety disorders, 37 percent
more likely to develop depression, 110 percent more likely to
rely on alcohol use or abuse, 115 percent more likely to
develop suicidal behavior, and 220 percent more likely to take
on marijuana use or abuse. As many as 60 percent of women
having an abortion experience some level of emotional distress
afterwards, with 30 percent being classified as severe
distress. Potential complications of abortions include heavy or
persistent bleeding, damage to cervix, abdominal pain or
cramping, scarring of uterine lining, breast cancer, future
premature births or miscarriages, infection or sepsis, placenta
previa, perforation of uterus, damage to other organs, and even
death.
(4) A significant proportion of abortions in the United
States are performed on women of college age who may be unaware
of their rights to accommodation and prohibitions against
discrimination due to pregnancy under title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) or deprived of
information about abortion alternatives.
(5) Additionally, women on college campuses may fear
institutional reprisal, loss of athletic scholarship, and
possible negative impact on academic opportunities during the
pregnancy and after childbirth.
(6) An academic disparity exists because of the lack of
resources, support, and notifications available for female
college students who do not wish to receive an abortion or who
carry their unborn babies to term.
SEC. 3. NOTICE OF PREGNANT STUDENT RIGHTS, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND
RESOURCES.
Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(n) Pregnant Students' Rights, Accommodations, and Resources.--
``(1) In general.--Each institution of higher education
participating in any program under this title shall carry out
the information dissemination activities described in paragraph
(3) for prospective and enrolled students (including those
attending or planning to attend less than full time) regarding
the information described in paragraph (2) on the rights to,
and resources (including protections and accommodations) for,
pregnant students to carry a baby to term and students who may
become pregnant while enrolled at such institution of higher
education to carry a baby to term.
``(2) Information content.--The information described in
this paragraph is the following:
``(A) A list of resources on campus and in the
community that exist to help a pregnant student in
carrying the baby to term and caring for the baby after
birth.
``(B) Information about the accommodations
available to help a pregnant student carry the baby to
term and parent the baby after birth.
``(C) Information on how to file a complaint with--
``(i) the Department of Education, if a
student believes there was a violation by the
institution of title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) on
account of such student's determination to
carry a baby to term; and
``(ii) the institution, if a student
believes the student has been discriminated
against in violation of such title IX on
account of the student's determination to carry
a baby to term.
``(3) Information dissemination activities.--The
information dissemination activities described in this
paragraph shall include--
``(A) an email to each enrolled student at the
start of each period of study during an academic year;
and
``(B) the provision of information--
``(i) in student handbooks, if any;
``(ii) at each orientation for enrolled
students;
``(iii) at student health or counseling
centers, if any; and
``(iv) on the publicly available website of
the institution of higher education.
``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to require the
dissemination of additional information, or establish
additional rights, beyond the information and rights included
in this subsection.''.
Passed the House of Representatives January 18, 2024.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 310
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6914
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require institutions of higher education to disseminate information
on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant
students, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 23, 2024
Read the second time and placed on the calendar