Memorializing the unborn by lowering the United States flag to half-staff on the 22d day of January each year.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 56
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-02T18:50:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H. Res. 56
Purpose
This House Resolution aims to honor and mourn the lives lost to abortion since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. It proposes recognizing January 22 each year as a day of remembrance, called the "Day of Tears," by encouraging the lowering of the U.S. flag to half-staff. The resolution highlights the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 by the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which ruled that the Constitution does not protect a right to abortion.
Key Provisions
- Supports the official recognition of January 22 as the "Day of Tears" in the United States to commemorate the estimated 62 million unborn children lost to abortion since 1973.
- Encourages all Americans to lower their U.S. flags to half-staff on that date as a symbol of mourning for those lives.
- Urges lawmakers at all levels of government to pass laws that protect the value of human life from conception and improve the collection and reporting of data on abortions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding House Resolution, meaning it expresses the opinion of the House of Representatives but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It introduces no enforceable changes to current statutes or regulations.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: The resolution promotes a voluntary, symbolic act of remembrance that could raise awareness about abortion among the public and encourage personal reflection or activism on life issues. It has no legal requirements, so participation is optional.
- On government agencies: No direct impact, as it does not mandate actions for federal, state, or local agencies. However, it could indirectly influence policy discussions in Congress or state legislatures regarding abortion reporting and protections.
- On international relations: Minimal to none, as the resolution focuses on domestic historical events and U.S. constitutional interpretations without addressing foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pro-life advocates and organizations, who may view this as validation of their position following the Dobbs decision.
- The general public, particularly those involved in or affected by debates on abortion rights and ethics.
- Lawmakers and legislators, whom the resolution encourages to pursue related protective legislation.
- Symbolically, the resolution references unborn children as the primary honorees.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: The resolution references key Supreme Court rulings (Roe v. Wade and Dobbs), underscoring a shift in constitutional interpretation on abortion rights. It has no binding legal effect but could serve as a congressional statement in future court cases or debates on fetal personhood or data reporting requirements.
- Political: As a partisan measure introduced by Republican representatives and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it signals ongoing congressional support for anti-abortion initiatives post-Dobbs. It may energize pro-life constituencies but could deepen political divisions on reproductive rights without advancing enforceable policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-22: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-01-22: Submitted in House
- 2025-01-22: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Memorializing the unborn by lowering the United States flag to half-staff on the 22d day of January each year. — issued 2025-01-22 — PDF (2 pages)