Dignity for Aborted Children Act

House Bill

H.R. 798

119th Congress

Dignity for Aborted Children Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 28, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Clay Higgins

Representative

Republican

LA-3

Cosponsors

8

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

SponsorClay Higgins (R-LA)

Introduced1/28/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

ChamberHouse

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Vote Prediction

Dignity for Aborted Children Act

The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, w

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The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations.

Bill Number: 798
Sponsor: Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Policy Area: Health

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Dignity for Aborted Children Act
Bill Number: 798
Sponsor: Clay Higgins (R-LA)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Summary: The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation fa

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Dignity for Aborted Children Act requires abortion providers to obtain informed consent for disposal of fetal tissue through either patient retention or provider-arranged interment/cremation within seven days. Providers must submit annual reports to HHS, with civil penalties for documentation failures and criminal penalties for disposal violations.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Dignity for Aborted Children ActThis bill establishes requirements for abortion providers with respect to the disposal of human fetal tissue from an abortion.Specifically, it requires abortion providers to obtain a patient's informed consent for one of two specified methods of disposition and to retain the corresponding documentation in the patient's file.First, patients may choose to retain possession of the tissue. A patient may choose to transfer the tissue to an entity that provides interment or cremation services.Second, patients may choose to release the tissue to the provider. Providers must ensure any tissue released to them is interred or cremated within seven days of the procedure in a manner consistent with state law regarding the disposal of human remains.Abortion providers must submit reports annually to the Department of Health and Human Services about these requirements and other specified information.The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the requirement to retain documentation of informed consent, and it establishes criminal penalties for violations of the requirement regarding the disposal of human fetal tissue.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires informed consent for tissue disposal
Patient can retain or release tissue
Provider must inter or cremate within 7 days
Annual reporting to HHS required
Civil penalties for documentation failures
Criminal penalties for disposal violations

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill imposes specific requirements on the handling of fetal tissue from abortions, framing disposal in terms used for human remains. Supporters argue it provides dignity and closure for patients. Critics contend it adds unnecessary burdens on abortion providers and patients, potentially making abortions less accessible. The criminal penalties make this more than a regulatory requirement.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Related Subjects

Abortion

Cemeteries and funerals

Census and government statistics

Civil actions and liability

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

798, 119th Congress (2025). "Dignity for Aborted Children Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-798

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