Adoption Information Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 215
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-03-07T19:47:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 215: Adoption Information Act
Purpose
This bill aims to ensure that federally funded family planning service projects and programs provide information about adoption options to individuals seeking family planning or abortion-related services. It promotes awareness of adoption centers as an alternative by requiring the distribution of informational pamphlets.
Key Provisions
- Funding Conditions: Grants or contracts under section 501 of title V of the Social Security Act (which funds maternal and child health services, including family planning) can only be awarded if the recipient provides satisfactory assurances to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Pamphlet Distribution: At the time a person inquires about family planning medical services or abortion services, the project or program must give them a pamphlet containing:
- A comprehensive list of adoption centers in the relevant region (defined by the HHS Secretary).
- The address and telephone number of each listed center.
- Opportunity to Review: Each recipient must be given a chance to read the pamphlet.
- Secretary's Role: The HHS Secretary must prepare, annually update, and distribute these pamphlets to eligible projects and programs.
- Funding Limitation: No new funds are authorized for this requirement; it must be implemented using existing appropriations under title V.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section 514 to title V of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), titled "Limitation."
- Introduces a mandatory condition on federal funding for family planning projects, requiring the provision of adoption information, which was not previously specified in the law.
- Overrides other provisions in title V to enforce this assurance, but limits implementation to current funding levels without additional appropriations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The HHS Secretary gains responsibility for creating and distributing pamphlets annually, potentially increasing administrative workload without extra budget. Family planning grantees must comply to maintain funding, which could affect program operations.
- On Citizens: Individuals seeking family planning or abortion services at funded clinics will receive standardized information on local adoption options, potentially influencing personal decisions by highlighting alternatives to abortion or other family planning methods.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Family Planning Service Providers: Clinics and programs receiving federal grants under title V must distribute pamphlets and ensure compliance to avoid losing funding.
- Patients and Individuals: People inquiring about family planning or abortion services, who will receive adoption information, potentially broadening their awareness of options.
- Adoption Centers: Regional centers may see increased inquiries or referrals due to the pamphlets listing their contact details.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Responsible for pamphlet preparation, updates, and distribution, as well as verifying assurances from grantees.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Affected indirectly through the use of existing title V funds for this purpose, without new spending.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Establishes a clear funding condition tied to providing specific information, which could lead to enforcement actions or audits if grantees fail to comply. The "notwithstanding" clause prioritizes this requirement over other title V provisions, potentially simplifying legal challenges related to funding eligibility.
- Constitutional Implications: May raise questions about conditions on federal funding (under the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution), such as whether mandating adoption information in family planning contexts infringes on free speech or equal protection rights for providers or patients; however, it aligns with precedents allowing Congress to attach strings to grants.
- Political Implications: The bill could spark debate in reproductive health policy, as it integrates adoption promotion into family planning services, reflecting priorities of its sponsors (e.g., emphasizing alternatives to abortion) without altering core funding for contraception or other services.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-01-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Adoption Information Act — issued 2025-01-06 — PDF (3 pages)