Congress·In Committee·H.R. 999

Congress Proposes New Law to Guarantee Federal Right to Birth Control and Protect Healthcare Providers

Right to Contraception Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would create a federal law protecting the right of any person to buy and use birth control. It also protects the right of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to provide contraceptives and information about them without fear of being punished by the government.
The law would cover all types of birth control, including pills, emergency contraception, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and sterilization procedures. It also ensures people can get information about how to use these methods to prevent pregnancy or manage other health conditions.
If passed, this law would override any state or local rules that try to limit access to birth control. It specifically states that it would take priority over other laws, including those based on religious objections, to ensure that personal beliefs do not stop a patient from getting medical care.
The bill allows the U.S. Attorney General or private citizens to sue states or government officials who try to block access to contraception. This means if a state passes a law banning certain types of birth control, it could be challenged and overturned in court.
Supporters of the bill say it is necessary because some states have already tried to restrict access to public funding for birth control or have passed laws allowing providers to refuse service based on their own personal beliefs.

HealthcareCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 5, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment, if passed

If enacted, protections take effect immediately

The bill states it takes effect on the date it is signed into law, meaning people and providers would have enforceable rights to access and provide contraception right away, with no phase-in period.

Related News

2 articles

Washington Post·almost 2 years ago

How every senator voted on the Right to Contraception Act

The Senate voted not to advance the Right to Contraception Act, a bill that would prevent states from passing laws that limit access to hormonal birth control, IUDs, and other methods. Only two Republicans, Sens. Collins and Murkowski, voted to advance the measure.

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NBC News·almost 2 years ago

Senate Republicans Block Bill to Protect Access to Contraception

Senate Republicans blocked the Right to Contraception Act, arguing it was unnecessary because birth control is already protected under Supreme Court precedent. Democrats used the vote to highlight reproductive rights ahead of the 2024 elections.

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