Saving FACE Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9443
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T18:54:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation amends federal criminal law under title 18 of the United States Code to eliminate penalties for obstructing access to abortion services and redirect protections to church entrances.
Key Provisions
- Short title: Saving FACE Act of 2026.
- Amends 18 U.S.C. § 248 by changing the section heading from clinic-related language to "Freedom of access to church entrances."
- Removes the term "abortions" from subsection (d)(4).
- Adds a new definition of "abortion" that covers the intentional killing of an unborn child or termination of a known pregnancy, with limited exceptions for live birth after viability or removal of a dead fetus.
- Revises the definition of services related to the reproductive system to exclude abortions.
- Updates the table of sections to reflect the new heading.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill modifies the existing Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) provisions by removing abortion-related protections and shifting the statute's focus to churches. It redefines key terms to exclude abortion services from covered reproductive health activities.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Federal law enforcement and the Department of Justice would likely redirect resources from abortion facility access cases to church entrance protections.
- Citizens: Individuals seeking or providing abortion services may face reduced federal criminal barriers to protests or blockades; religious institutions gain explicit federal access protections.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Abortion providers and patients
- Anti-abortion demonstrators and advocacy groups
- Churches and religious organizations
- Federal prosecutors and courts
- State and local law enforcement agencies
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The changes alter federal criminal statutes on access to facilities, potentially raising issues under the First Amendment regarding speech and assembly at different types of locations. The explicit exclusion of abortions and addition of church-specific language could affect interpretations of federal protections for religious sites versus medical facilities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-24: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Saving FACE Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (3 pages)