Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act

Bill Number: H.R. 9448
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Government Operations and Politics
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2026-07-10T08:06:09Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 9448: Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act

Purpose

This legislation aims to protect access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, for federal civilian employees by limiting agency operations in states with restrictive abortion laws, providing travel and leave benefits for care access, and safeguarding employee privacy in employment and security decisions.

Key Provisions

Relocation Restrictions: Prohibits moving an Executive agency's headquarters or a significant portion (defined as at least 5% of employees or components affecting 10% of its budget) to states or territories with abortion-restrictive laws enacted or effective on or after June 24, 2022. The Comptroller General must publish and update a quarterly list of such locations.
Funding Limits: Bars use of agency funds for relocating, leasing, purchasing, or constructing facilities in listed states, with exceptions for maintenance, existing leases, or facilities solely for public services.
Assignment Protections: Allows employees to decline transfers or duty station changes to listed states for medical, reproductive, family planning, or personal health reasons. Appointments or promotions cannot require relocation to such states unless waived for those reasons.
Travel Allowances: Requires agencies to cover travel and transportation costs for employees and eligible dependents (unmarried dependents under 26 or disabled) to obtain lawful reproductive healthcare unavailable in their resident state. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must issue regulations within 90 days, modeled on military travel rules, with privacy safeguards.
Administrative Leave: Grants up to 21 days of paid leave for employees or their eligible dependents to travel for abortion services not available locally.
Privacy Protections: Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to bar consideration of abortion use, travel for services, or related support in security clearance decisions. Similar limits apply to personnel actions, except for investigating misuse of benefits. OPM and the President must issue implementing guidance within 90 days.
Anti-Retaliation: Prohibits adverse personnel actions against employees or applicants for using opt-out rights, waivers, travel allowances, or leave.
Other: Takes effect 60 days after enactment; includes a severability clause to preserve the rest of the Act if any part is invalidated.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Introduces new federal restrictions on agency location and funding based on state abortion policies, overriding prior flexibility in government operations.
Creates novel employee benefits for reproductive travel and leave, extending beyond standard federal personnel rules under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
Amends security clearance procedures (50 U.S.C. 3161) and personnel guidelines to exclude reproductive health information, marking a shift from previous practices that could consider such details.
Establishes privacy rules for reproductive care that limit agency inquiries, with narrow exceptions for benefit misuse.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: Executive agencies face barriers to relocating or expanding in certain states, potentially affecting operational efficiency and requiring new administrative processes for benefits and privacy compliance. Agencies must designate staff to handle travel requests and update policies.
On Citizens/Employees: Federal employees gain options to avoid moves, access out-of-state care with reimbursements, and take paid leave, while their reproductive decisions receive stronger privacy protections in employment and clearances. Dependents also benefit from coverage.
On International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
On States: States with restrictive laws may see reduced federal presence or new facilities, potentially influencing local economies or federal-state dynamics.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Civilian federal employees of Executive agencies (excluding political appointees and Senior Executive Service members).
Eligible dependents of those employees.
Executive agencies and their leadership.
The Comptroller General (for list maintenance), OPM (for regulations), and the President (for guidelines).
Applicants for federal employment.
States and territories with post-2022 abortion restrictions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Raises federalism considerations by tying federal agency decisions to varying state laws on reproductive rights.
Strengthens privacy protections in security and employment contexts, potentially intersecting with due process or equal protection principles under the Constitution.
Includes a severability provision to limit the scope of any judicial invalidation.
The bill does not address international aspects or alter existing definitions of "lawful reproductive health care services" beyond state-specific accessibility.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

Cosponsors (32)

Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

Recent Actions

2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
2026-06-24: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
2026-06-24: Introduced in House
2026-06-24: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (13 pages)