Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2172
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:08:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 (S. 2172)
Purpose
The legislation aims to prevent abortion providers from disposing of fetal remains through publicly owned water systems, establishing a federal prohibition on this practice.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition: Abortion providers are barred from placing fetal remains into any publicly owned water system, which includes government-owned facilities for water supply, transport, or treatment.
- Penalties: Violations result in fines under federal law, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
- Patient Protection: Individuals who undergo an abortion face no legal liability for violations related to this disposal rule.
- State and Local Authority: The law does not override any stricter state or local rules on the same issue.
- Definitions:
- Abortion: A procedure to intentionally end a pregnancy, excluding those intended for live birth or removal of a deceased fetus.
- Abortion provider: The person performing the abortion (excluding the patient).
- Fetal remains: Remains of an aborted fetus or associated medical waste.
- Publicly owned water system: Government-controlled systems for water services, including pipes and drains.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill adds a new section (498F) to Part H of Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.), creating the first federal criminal penalty specifically targeting the disposal of fetal remains in public water systems. It does not alter existing abortion regulations but introduces disposal restrictions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Federal, state, and local entities managing water systems may see changes in oversight or enforcement related to medical waste handling.
- Citizens: Patients are shielded from penalties, while abortion providers must adjust disposal methods to avoid federal charges.
- No Direct International Effects: The bill focuses solely on domestic water systems and does not address foreign relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Abortion providers (subject to penalties).
- Patients undergoing abortions (protected from liability).
- Federal, state, and local governments (as owners of water systems).
- Public health and medical waste management entities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The measure adds federal criminal sanctions to abortion-related practices, potentially intersecting with constitutional protections for reproductive rights.
- By allowing states to enact stricter rules, it preserves state authority without creating uniform national standards.
- Enforcement would involve federal penalties under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, raising questions about federal versus state roles in regulating medical procedures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-25 — PDF (4 pages)