Standing with Moms Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 688
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-07T21:18:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Standing with Moms Act" (H.R. 688) aims to support pregnant women by requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a public website and interactive online tool. These resources would provide expecting mothers with easy access to federal, state, local, and private support services, emphasizing alternatives to abortion, abortion risks, and comprehensive care options during and after pregnancy.
Key Provisions
- Website Establishment (life.gov): Within one year of enactment, HHS must launch a user-friendly website called life.gov. It will list resources for pregnant women, including:
- Mental health counseling, pregnancy counseling, and pre- and post-delivery services.
- Information on non-abortion options.
- Details on abortion risks, such as complications and procedure failures.
- Links to child development information starting from conception.
- Interactive Portal: HHS must also create a portal on its public website that uses user-input questions (e.g., ZIP code) to deliver personalized information on:
- Local resources like mentorship, health services (including abortion pill reversal and breastfeeding support), financial aid, childcare, education, housing, legal aid, addiction recovery, mental health support, prenatal diagnostics, and child care options (e.g., adoption and foster care).
- Abortion risks at different stages of pregnancy.
- The portal includes a feedback mechanism for users to rate its helpfulness.
- Follow-Up and Outreach: Users can consent to an assessment for follow-up contact via phone or email. HHS agents will connect users with additional resources in coordination with providers.
- State Involvement and Grants: States must recommend local resources for inclusion, based on criteria like the provider not being involved in abortions and having at least three years of service. HHS can award grants to states to build systems for aggregating these resources and conducting outreach.
- Integration with Existing Services: The Maternal Mental Health Hotline must promote the website and portal, operate nationwide with 24/7 live chat, and support non-English languages for broader access.
- Exclusions and Administration: Resources from "prohibited entities" (organizations that perform, refer, or fund abortions) are banned. The portal's implementation cannot be delegated below HHS's top leadership level (Office of the Secretary).
- Reporting: Within 180 days of launch, HHS must report to Congress on website usage, user feedback, service gaps, and improvement ideas—without revealing personal user data.
- Definitions: Key terms include:
- Abortion: Intentional use of tools, drugs, or devices to end a known pregnancy, excluding actions to save the fetus or mother's health or remove a deceased fetus.
- Unborn child: A human organism from fertilization until live birth.
- Prohibited entity: Groups or affiliates that provide, refer, counsel for, or fund abortions.
- Born alive: Defined by existing federal law as a child showing signs of life after complete birth, regardless of survival.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act (a major federal health law from 1944) by adding a new Title XXXIV focused on pregnancy support awareness. It introduces novel federal mandates for a centralized, interactive resource hub—previously, no such comprehensive, tailored online portal existed under HHS. It also expands the Maternal Mental Health Hotline's role and creates a grant program for states, shifting some resource aggregation to state-level coordination while enforcing strict exclusions for abortion-related providers.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HHS faces new administrative burdens, including website development, portal maintenance, user outreach, and congressional reporting, potentially requiring additional funding and staff. States may receive grants to enhance local resource systems, improving coordination but adding compliance requirements.
- On Citizens: Pregnant and postpartum women gain a one-stop, location-specific tool for support, which could increase access to services like counseling, financial aid, and health care, possibly reducing isolation and promoting informed choices. However, the focus on abortion alternatives and risks might influence decision-making for some users.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is domestic and focused on U.S. resources.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Expecting and Postpartum Mothers: Primary beneficiaries, with tailored access to support services.
- HHS and Federal Agencies: Responsible for implementation, including the Secretary's office and Health Resources and Services Administration (which runs the hotline).
- State and Local Governments: Must recommend resources and may apply for grants to build aggregation systems.
- Private Nonprofits and Providers: Eligible for inclusion if they meet criteria (e.g., no abortion ties), potentially gaining visibility and referrals for services like mentorship, shelters, and recovery programs.
- Abortion Providers and Related Organizations: Excluded as "prohibited entities," limiting their involvement in federally promoted resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill's definitions (e.g., "unborn child" from fertilization) could influence future court interpretations of fetal rights in health and family law, building on existing federal terms like "born alive." The exclusion of prohibited entities might lead to lawsuits over discrimination against certain providers.
- Constitutional Implications: By using federal funds to highlight abortion risks and alternatives, the law could face challenges under the First Amendment (free speech) or Equal Protection Clause if viewed as government endorsement of one viewpoint on abortion. It aligns with post-Roe v. Wade shifts but avoids direct abortion restrictions.
- Political Implications: The legislation promotes pro-life perspectives through public resources, potentially polarizing debates on reproductive rights. It encourages state-federal partnerships but may strain relations with groups advocating for abortion access, influencing future health policy funding and oversight.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Standing with Moms Act — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (9 pages)