[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7820 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7820
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 26, 2024
Ms. Crockett (for herself and Mr. Goldman of New York) 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
2024''.
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 of prescribing, dispensing, and
receiving abortion, medication abortion such as
mifepristone and misoprostol, and related health
services, consistent with applicable State and Federal
laws;
``(C) medically accurate information about
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;
``(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) misleading claims by such centers
about reproductive health care; and
``(ii) inaccurate, misleading, or
stigmatizing information disseminated by such
centers about abortion and contraception; and
``(F) how to identify misinformation regarding
abortion and related health services, including
medication abortion, intended to deceive or discourage
individuals from accessing such services; and
``(2) 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; and
``(H) people living in rural or other medically
underserved areas.
``(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.''.
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