Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2497

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-05-20T08:08:19Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025 aims to improve public understanding and access to abortion and related health services by requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch a national education, awareness, and outreach campaign. This campaign focuses on providing accurate information while respecting state and federal laws, particularly in light of varying abortion regulations across the U.S.

Key Provisions

• National Campaign Mandate: HHS must conduct a coordinated public health campaign to educate people on accessing abortion services, including medication options like mifepristone and misoprostol (drugs used to end early pregnancies).
• Core Campaign Elements:
• Information on where and how to obtain abortion services, including in-person care and telehealth (remote medical consultations via phone or video).
• Details on the legal status of prescribing, dispensing, and receiving abortion care under applicable laws.
• Medically accurate information about abortion procedures and options.
• Rights to travel across state lines for care, plus resources for travel support.
• Guidance on distinguishing legitimate abortion providers from "anti-abortion centers" or "crisis pregnancy centers" (facilities that may not provide abortion services and could offer misleading information), including spotting inaccurate claims about reproductive health, abortion, or contraception (birth control).
• Tools to recognize disinformation or misinformation aimed at discouraging access to care.
• Tips for protecting personal and health information from unauthorized use or monitoring.
• Accessibility and Distribution:
• All campaign materials must be posted on the HHS website.
• The campaign must be culturally sensitive, effective, and reachable for underserved groups, such as communities of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, those with limited English skills, low-income individuals, youth, LGBTQI+ people, rural residents, and Native American communities using Indian Health Service.
• Restrictions on Campaign Content:
• Prohibits promoting false information about abortion safety, unproven "abortion reversal" methods (attempts to stop an ongoing abortion), or non-comprehensive programs like abstinence-only education.
• Bans collecting or sharing personal data from users of campaign websites, apps, or resources.
• Consultation Requirements: HHS must work with experts in sexual and reproductive health, nonprofits focused on reproductive rights and justice, state/local health departments, and certain universities.
• Definitions:
• "Abortion and related health services" includes abortion and any connected care, even if provided separately.
• "Medically accurate and complete information" is based on scientific evidence, peer-reviewed research, and endorsed by major medical groups like the American Medical Association.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill adds a new section (SEC. 399V-8) to Part P of Title III of the Public Health Service Act (a key federal law governing public health programs). Previously, there was no specific federal requirement for a nationwide HHS-led campaign on abortion access education. This introduces a mandatory, focused initiative that builds on existing public health outreach but targets abortion-specific awareness, emphasizing legal compliance and anti-misinformation efforts.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HHS will need to allocate resources for campaign development, website updates, and consultations, potentially increasing administrative and funding demands. State and local health departments may assist in implementation, fostering better coordination.
• On Citizens: Could empower individuals, especially in restrictive states or underserved areas, by providing clear, accessible information to make informed health decisions and navigate barriers like travel or misinformation. It may reduce confusion around crisis pregnancy centers and enhance privacy protections for sensitive health data.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. public health.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Patients and Underserved Communities: Primary beneficiaries, gaining better access to reliable information on reproductive care.
• Healthcare Providers: Experts in reproductive health who will consult on the campaign and may see increased patient inquiries or demand for services.
• Nonprofit Organizations: Groups advancing reproductive rights, health, and justice (e.g., abortion access funds) will influence content and potentially distribute materials.
• Government Entities: HHS leads implementation; state/local health departments and Indian Health Service support outreach.
• Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Indirectly affected, as the campaign highlights how to identify potentially misleading facilities, which could reduce their influence.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Reinforces adherence to state and federal laws on abortion (post the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which returned regulation to states). It promotes evidence-based information without endorsing illegal activities, but could face challenges if perceived as conflicting with state restrictions.
• Constitutional Implications: Aligns with First Amendment protections for public health education but avoids compelling speech or care provision. It supports privacy rights (e.g., against data misuse) under the Fourth Amendment and may indirectly bolster equal protection for marginalized groups by targeting underserved communities.
• Political Implications: As a partisan topic, the bill could spark debates over federal involvement in reproductive health, with supporters viewing it as essential for equity and opponents potentially seeing it as promoting abortion. Its passage would signal congressional priorities on public health access amid ongoing state-level variations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]

Cosponsors (52)

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] and 2 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-31: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (7 pages)