[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 895 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 895
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require the Attorney General
to investigate alleged violations of the partial birth abortion ban.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2025
Mr. Self (for himself, Mr. Biggs of Arizona, Mr. Aderholt, Mrs. Miller
of Illinois, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Weber of Texas,
Mr. Harris of Maryland, Mr. Moore of West Virginia, Mr. Burlison, Mr.
Guest, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Babin, and Mr. Harris of North Carolina)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to require the Attorney General
to investigate alleged violations of the partial birth abortion ban.
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 ``Ensuring Justice for Victims of
Partial-Birth Abortion Act''.
SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION INTO REMAINS OF 5 BABIES DISCOVERED IN
WASHINGTON, DC.
(a) In General.--The Attorney General shall conduct an
investigation to determine whether there was a violation of section
1531 of title 18, United States Code, (commonly known as the ``Partial-
Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003'') in connection with the remains of the
5 babies that were discovered by the D.C. Metropolitan Police
Department on March 30, 2022.
(b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to the Congress a report
containing a detailed description of the Attorney General's
investigation conducted under subsection (a) into the circumstances
surrounding the deaths of each baby that was recovered, including any
enforcement action taken.
SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT TO INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS OF THE PARTIAL-BIRTH
ABORTION BAN.
Section 1531 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(f) The Attorney General shall investigate and take appropriate
enforcement action for alleged violations of this section.''.
SEC. 4. MANDATORY REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS.
A health care practitioner or any employee of a hospital, a
physician's office, or an abortion clinic who has knowledge of a
violation of section 1531 of title 18, United States Code, shall
immediately report such violation to an appropriate State or Federal
law enforcement agency, or to both.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON VIOLATIONS OF THE PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN.
Not later than October 1 of each year, the Attorney General shall
submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives and of the Senate, and publish on the website of the
Department of Justice, a report that includes the following:
(1) A list of steps taken by the Department of Justice to
inform abortion providers of their responsibility to comply
with section 1531 of title 18, United States Code.
(2) The number of alleged violations of such section during
the previous 10-year period, a description of all efforts taken
by the Department of Justice to investigate such alleged
violations, and the number of enforcement actions related to
such alleged violations, including any preliminary
investigation of, prosecution of, and charges filed in
connection with such alleged violations.
SEC. 6. GAO REPORT.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a review of
the enforcement actions taken in connection with alleged violations of
section 1531 of title 18, United States Code, during fiscal years 2004
through 2024, and submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the
House of Representatives and of the Senate a report on such review,
including any recommendations, particularly with respect strengthening
the enforcement of such section, that the Comptroller General
determines appropriate.
SEC. 7. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the
application of such provision or amendment to any person or
circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act,
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of such to any
other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.
<all>