Expressing support for the recognition of March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day".
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 78
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-13T08:19:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 78) aims to express congressional support for designating March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day." It honors the work of abortion providers and staff, acknowledges challenges they face due to legal restrictions and violence, and reaffirms Congress's commitment to protecting access to abortion care.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a detailed preamble outlining the context and rationale, followed by five main resolved clauses:
- Recognition of the day: Celebrates the courage, compassion, and high-quality care provided by abortion providers and staff to patients and families nationwide.
- Praise for communities: Lauds communities that support and host abortion providers and staff.
- Affirmation of commitments: Supports the safety of providers, their ability to deliver essential care, and patients' rights to abortion access without violence, criminalization, or stigma, regardless of location.
- Condemnation of restrictions: Criticizes Supreme Court decisions (like Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization), actions by the current administration, and anti-abortion extremists for limiting and stigmatizing abortion care, which harms providers and communities.
- Vision for the future: Declares a goal of eliminating all abortion bans and restrictions, ensuring full access to care without penalty or stigma, and commits Congress to partnering with providers, patients, advocates, and communities to achieve this.
The preamble highlights historical context, such as the murder of Dr. David Gunn in 1993 (inspiring the date), the 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade (a Supreme Court ruling that previously protected abortion rights), clinic closures, violence statistics from the National Abortion Federation, and disproportionate impacts on people of color and underserved areas.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding concurrent resolution, meaning it expresses Congress's opinion but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It introduces no legal changes to existing statutes, such as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (a 1994 law protecting clinics from violence and obstruction).
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Minimal direct impact, as it is symbolic; however, it could encourage congressional oversight or funding priorities related to reproductive health and clinic safety.
- On citizens: May raise public awareness of abortion providers' challenges, potentially reducing stigma and supporting access in states without bans. It highlights burdens like travel costs and clinic closures affecting nearly 27 million women of reproductive age (plus trans and nonbinary individuals), with over half of Black women impacted.
- On international relations: No direct effects, though it underscores U.S. domestic debates on reproductive rights, which could influence global perceptions of U.S. human rights policies.
Overall, the resolution serves as a symbolic gesture that might inspire advocacy but lacks enforceable outcomes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Abortion providers and staff: Directly honored and supported, with emphasis on their safety amid harassment, violence, and workforce strains from clinic closures (e.g., 51 Planned Parenthood centers in 2025).
- Patients seeking abortion care: Beneficiaries of affirmed rights to access without barriers, particularly in the 20 states with bans as of March 2026, and those facing inequities like poverty, violence, or poor maternal health.
- Communities and advocates: Includes reproductive justice groups (e.g., framework from 1994 by Black women activists) and underserved populations in "maternal health deserts."
- Anti-abortion groups and extremists: Indirectly addressed through condemnations of their actions, including violence (e.g., 11 murders since 1977) and political interference.
- Congress and the administration: Positions lawmakers as allies in reproductive rights while critiquing executive policies on enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces debates over abortion post-Dobbs, which shifted regulation to states, leading to bans in 20 states and closures. It critiques non-enforcement of clinic protection laws but has no binding force.
- Constitutional: Echoes tensions around bodily autonomy (rooted in privacy rights from Roe) and equal protection, noting worsened outcomes for marginalized groups, but does not challenge or interpret the Constitution directly.
- Political: Highly partisan, introduced by Democratic members, it signals opposition to restrictions and could galvanize support for pro-choice policies in an election year. As a concurrent resolution, it requires House and Senate approval for symbolic weight but avoids veto, potentially deepening national divides on abortion while promoting a human rights framing for reproductive justice.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Cosponsors (22)
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-12: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-12: Submitted in House
- 2026-03-12: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the recognition of March 10, 2026, as "Abortion Provider Appreciation Day". — issued 2026-03-12 — PDF (7 pages)