Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025
Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025 (H.R. 2226) would amend the Public Health Service Act to protect entities that do not participate in abortion from discrimination by the federal government or by recipients of federal financial assistance. It establishes a new framework (Sections 245A and 245B) intended to (1) prohibit government or funders from penalizing, withholding funds, or taking other adverse actions against pregnancy centers and similar organizations that offer life-affirming support or refrain from abortion activities, and (2) strengthen enforcement of federal conscience protections by allowing civil actions for violations and expanding remedies. The bill emphasizes support services such as counseling, material assistance, and prenatal resources, and it defines key terms to distinguish life-affirming options from abortion-related activities. In practical terms, the bill aims to shield pregnancy centers and related providers from being forced to participate in abortion-related activities and to empower affected parties to sue for relief if discrimination occurs. It also clarifies what counts as abortion, what constitutes life-affirming services, and who can bring a civil action, including the Attorney General or individuals/entities harmed by a violation. The overall effect would be to bolster protections for organizations that do not perform or promote abortions and to broaden pathways for enforcement.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition on discrimination against non-abortion-participating entities. The bill adds new Sec. 245A to forbid the federal government and any entity receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating against organizations that offer life-affirming pregnancy support or refrain from abortion-related activities.
- 2Enumerated prohibited actions. The bill specifies actions that would be disallowed, including mandating abortion, providing abortion-inducing drugs, requiring abortion referrals, requiring abortion counseling, requiring promotion of abortion, or restricting information or services related to pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting because the entity does not perform, refer, or counsel for abortion.
- 3Definitions to create clarity. The bill defines abortion, federal financial assistance, life-affirming alternatives to abortion, and life-affirming support/resources to ensure which activities are protected or restricted. It also explains who counts as a “State or local government” receiving federal funds.
- 4Strengthened civil enforcement (Sec. 245B). The bill allows a qualified party (the Attorney General or an adversely affected individual/entity) to file a civil action for designated violations, seeking injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and damages, with entitlement to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. Governmental entities can be named as defendants.
- 5Optional administrative relief and severability. Actions can proceed without prior administrative remedies, and if any provision is found unconstitutional, the rest of the Act remains in force (severability).