Clean Water for All Life Act

Summary#

This bill would change chapter 74 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code by adding a new federal crime (section 1532). It would make it a crime to provide or try to provide a chemical abortion in or affecting interstate commerce unless three conditions are met: the health care provider physically examines the patient, the provider is physically present at the location of the chemical abortion, and the provider gives a “catch kit” and red bag medical waste with instructions for proper disposal. Penalties are up to 5 years in prison, a fine up to $50,000, or both, for each occurrence. The bill also renames the chapter header to “ABORTION CRIMES.”

The bill defines key terms in the new section. “Chemical abortion drug” includes mifepristone, misoprostol, mifeprex, mifegyne, and similar drugs. “Catch kit” and “red bag medical waste” are defined as containers for collecting and disposing of medical or biohazardous waste. “Abortion” is defined as using or providing instruments, medicines, or other means to terminate a pregnancy with the purpose and knowledge that the unborn child would likely die; the definition excludes actions to save the life or health of the unborn child, remove a dead unborn child after spontaneous abortion, or remove an ectopic pregnancy. “Unborn child” is defined as a human organism from fertilization until live birth.

What it means for you#

• Patients: The bill would require an in-person exam by a health care provider and the provider to be physically present where the chemical abortion takes place.
• Health care providers: To avoid criminal penalties, providers would need to examine patients in person, be physically present during the procedure, and provide the specified waste-collection kit and instructions.
• Pharmacies, mail-order services, and telemedicine: The bill makes it a crime to provide chemical abortion drugs in or affecting interstate commerce without the in-person exam and physical presence requirements, which applies to remote provision methods.
• Legal scope: The new offense applies “in or affecting interstate commerce,” and penalties are per occurrence.

Expenses#

• The bill sets criminal penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to $50,000 per occurrence.
• No publicly available information on federal budgetary or implementation costs is included in the text provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.