Ultrasound Informed Consent Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/hr/48
Last Updated: March 4, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

ID: B001302

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

January 3, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose its true intentions.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Ultrasound Informed Consent Act (HR 48) claims to ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review it before giving informed consent. How noble. The real purpose, of course, is to create a bureaucratic obstacle course for women exercising their constitutional right to choose.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Public Health Service Act by adding a new title (XXXIV) that defines terms like "abortion," "abortion provider," and "unborn child." It then outlines the requirements for informed consent, which include:

1. Performing an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman. 2. Providing a simultaneous explanation of what the ultrasound is depicting. 3. Displaying the ultrasound images so that the woman may view them (but allowing her to turn away if she chooses). 4. Providing a complete medical description of the ultrasound images.

The bill also includes exceptions for medical emergencies and outlines penalties for failure to comply, including civil fines and private right of action.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** Women seeking an abortion, abortion providers, and state medical licensing authorities are all affected by this bill. But let's be real – the true stakeholders are the politicians who sponsored this bill (Biggs, Crenshaw, and Burlison) and their anti-choice constituents.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a thinly veiled attempt to restrict access to abortion services under the guise of "informed consent." The ultrasound requirement will likely increase costs, wait times, and emotional distress for women seeking an abortion. It's a classic example of legislative overreach, as states already have their own informed consent laws in place.

The real disease here is not a lack of informed consent but rather the chronic condition of misogyny and ideological extremism that afflicts our politicians. This bill is just another symptom of a larger problem – the relentless erosion of reproductive rights in America.

In conclusion, HR 48 is a cynical exercise in legislative grandstanding, designed to appease anti-choice zealots while pretending to care about women's health. It's a bad faith effort to restrict access to abortion services, and its proponents should be ashamed of themselves. But hey, what's new?

Related Topics

Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Government Operations & Accountability Federal Budget & Appropriations
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (house personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$116,250
26 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$116,250

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
GRAINGER, DAMON
2 transactions
$6,870
2
MCBRIDE, MICHAEL
2 transactions
$6,870
3
BENNETT, HEATHER
1 transaction
$6,600
4
COX, HOWARD
1 transaction
$6,600
5
SCOTT, MARILYN
1 transaction
$6,600
6
SEYMORE, GARY W
1 transaction
$6,600
7
TAYLOR, MARGARETTA J
2 transactions
$6,600
8
BENSON, LEE
2 transactions
$6,600
9
MATTEO, CHRIS
1 transaction
$5,000
10
CASSELS, W.T. JR.
1 transaction
$3,500
11
CASSELS, W TOBIN III
1 transaction
$3,500
12
ARIAIL, BRANDI C
1 transaction
$3,500
13
FLOYD, KAREN KANES
1 transaction
$3,500
14
SIMPSON, DARWIN H
1 transaction
$3,500
15
JOHNSON, NEIL
1 transaction
$3,435
16
KUMAR, DHAVAL
1 transaction
$3,435
17
LEE, LUCIAN
1 transaction
$3,435
18
RAHM, CHRISTINA
1 transaction
$3,435
19
THOMAS, CLAYTON
1 transaction
$3,435
20
EZELL, SHAWN
1 transaction
$3,435
21
MCCLEVE, LONNIE
1 transaction
$3,300
22
FAUST, ANNE R
1 transaction
$3,300
23
BROPHY, DANIEL
1 transaction
$3,300
24
LONDEN, PRISCILLA
1 transaction
$3,300
25
ALLEN, GWYNDA S
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2]

ID: C001120

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEVRON
Organization SAN RAMON, CA
$5,000
Sep 4, 2024
2
COMPLETE EMERGENCY CARE HOLDING LLC
Organization SOUTHLAKE, TX
$3,500
Mar 11, 2024
3
SANDLIAN REALTY
Organization WICHITA, KS
$1,000
Feb 7, 2024
4
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
Organization LIVINGSTON, TX
$1,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
RUSSELL W H KRIDEL MD PA
Organization HOUSTON, TX
$250
Feb 28, 2023
6
JONES RANCH LLC
Organization CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
$250
Mar 13, 2024
7
MAFRIGE, DAVID
SELF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$9,900
Jun 21, 2023
8
MAFRIGE, DAVID
SELF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$9,900
Jun 21, 2023
9
ODEN, KEITH
CAMDEN PROPERTY TRUST EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$9,900
Jun 27, 2023
10
ODEN, KEITH
CAMDEN PROPERTY TRUST EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN
Individual HOUSTON, TX
$9,900
Jun 27, 2023

Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]

ID: B001316

Top Contributors

10

1
OZARK SHOOT-DON'T SHOOT SOLUTIONS LLC
Organization HIGHLANDVILLE, MO
$250
Oct 11, 2024
2
CARNES, CAROL
SELF EMPLOYED REAL ESTATE AGENT
Individual SPRINGFIELD, MO
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
3
WATTS, BARRY
SAVINGYOUTAXES.COM FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Individual ROGERSVILLE, MO
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
4
JOHN, STACK
ISAGENIX INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER
Individual SPRINGFIELD, MO
$3,300
Nov 20, 2023
5
BRAUER, BEAU
HUNTER ENGINEERING PRESIDENT
Individual SAINT LOUIS, MO
$3,300
Jan 4, 2024
6
BRAUER, BEAU
HUNTER ENGINEERING PRESIDENT
Individual SAINT LOUIS, MO
$3,300
Jan 4, 2024
7
BRAUER, SUZY
Individual BRIDGETON, MO
$3,300
Jan 4, 2024
8
BRAUER, SUZY
Individual BRIDGETON, MO
$3,300
Jan 4, 2024
9
KAMAT, SONA
WEST COUNTY RHEUMATOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGIST
Individual SAINT LOUIS, MO
$3,300
Jan 12, 2024
10
WHIRE, DEBBIEJO
KANAKUK CAMPING
Individual BRANSON, MO
$3,300
Feb 15, 2024

Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2]

ID: C001132

Top Contributors

10

1
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Mar 31, 2024
2
AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY
Organization MARICOPA, AZ
$3,300
Sep 16, 2024
3
HALE, STEVEN L. MR.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
Individual PEACHTREE CITY, GA
$9,900
Mar 31, 2024
4
JOHNSON, BENJAMIN MR.
Individual GRIFFIN, GA
$9,900
Mar 29, 2024
5
METCALF, MICHAEL MR.
SOUND MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC OWNER
Individual WOODSTOCK, GA
$9,900
Mar 29, 2024
6
MILES, PHILLIP MR.
Individual ALPHARETTA, GA
$9,900
Mar 29, 2024
7
SANDWICH, JAMES T.
Individual BROOKS, GA
$9,900
Feb 13, 2024
8
SANDWICH, JAMES T. DR.
FAYETTE AREA DERMATOLOGY PHYSICIAN
Individual BROOKS, GA
$9,900
Feb 13, 2024
9
HALE, STEVEN L. MR.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
Individual PEACHTREE CITY, GA
$9,900
Mar 31, 2024
10
JOHNSON, BENJAMIN MR.
LIBERTY TECHNOLOGY CEO
Individual GRIFFIN, GA
$9,900
Mar 29, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 38 nodes and 39 connections

Total contributions: $149,100

Top Donors - Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

26 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document. Higher similarity scores indicate stronger thematic connections.

Introduction

Moderate 64.3%
Pages: 530-532

— 497 — Department of Health and Human Services l OCR should withdraw its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)86 guidance on abortion. OCR should withdraw its June 2022 guidance87 that purports to address patient privacy concerns following the Dobbs decision but is actually a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs. HIPAA covers patients in the womb, but this guidance treats them as nonpersons contrary to law. The guidance is unnecessary and contributes to ideologically motivated fearmongering about abortion after Dobbs. AUTHOR’S NOTE: The preparation of this chapter was a collective enterprise of selfless individuals involved in the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. All contributors to this chapter are listed at the front of this volume and include former officials in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies, as well as academics, attorneys, and experts in the health care and insurance fields. — 498 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise ENDNOTES 1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Strategic Plan, FY 2018–2022, p. 50, https://aspe.hhs.gov/ sites/default/files/documents/feac346aca967bfadc446398679e14ec/hhs-strategic-plan-fy-2018-2022.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023). 2. “Strategic Goal 1: Protect and Strengthen Equitable Access to High Quality and Affordable Healthcare” in ibid. “In the context of HHS, this Strategic Plan adopts the definition of underserved communities listed in Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government to refer to ‘populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, who have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life’; this definition includes individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Individuals may belong to more than one underserved community and face intersecting barriers. This definition applies to the terms underserved communities and underserved populations throughout this Strategic Plan.” Ibid. Emphasis in original. 3. Karen Weintraub, “Americans’ Life Expectancy Continues to Fall, Erasing Health Gains of the Last Quarter Century,” USA Today, December 22, 2022, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/12/22/us-life- expectancy-continues-fall-erasing-25-years-health-gains/10937418002/ (accessed February 6, 2023). 4. Apoorva Mandavilli, “The C.D.C. Isn’t Publishing Large Portions of the Data It Collects,” The New York Times, updated February 22, 2022, https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/114450/documents/HHRG-117- IF02-20220302-SD004.pdf (accessed March 22, 2023). 5. Zachary B. Sluzala and Edmund F. Haislmaier, “Lessons from COVID-19: How Policymakers Should Reform the Regulation of Clinical Testing,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3696, March 28, 2022, https://www. heritage.org/public-health/report/lessons-covid-19-how-policymakers-should-reform-the-regulation-clinical. 6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C),” https://www.cdc.gov/maso/pdf/cdcmiss.pdf (March 16, 2023). 7. Judith Garber, “CDC ‘Disclaimers’ Hide Financial Conflicts of Interest,” Lown Institute Accountability Blog, November 6, 2019, https://lowninstitute.org/cdc-disclaimers-hide-financial-conflicts-of-interest/ (accessed February 6, 2023). See also U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “CDC Foundation Active Programs (October 1, 2014–September 30, 2015),” https://www. cdcfoundation.org/sites/default/files/upload/pdf/CDCFoundation-ActivePrograms-FY2015.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023); “CDC Active Programs (October 1, 2015–September 30, 2016),” https://www.cdcfoundation. org/sites/default/files/upload/pdf/CDCFoundation-ActivePrograms-FY2016.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023); “CDC Foundation Active Programs (October 1, 2016–September 30, 2017),” https://www.cdcfoundation.org/ sites/default/files/upload/pdf/CDCFoundation-ActivePrograms-FY2017.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023); “CDC Foundation Active Programs (October 1, 2017–September 30, 2018),” https://www.cdcfoundation.org/sites/default/ files/upload/pdf/CDCFoundation-ActivePrograms-FY2018.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023); “CDC Foundation Active Programs, October 1, 2018–September 30, 2019,” https://www.cdcfoundation.org/sites/default/files/upload/ pdf/CDCFoundation-ActivePrograms-FY2019.pdf (accessed February 7, 2023); “CDC Foundation Active Programs, October 1, 2029–September 30, 2020,” https://www.cdcfoundation.org/CDCF-ActivePrograms-CDC-FY20?inline (accessed February 7, 2023); and “CDC Foundation Active Programs, October 1, 2020–September 30, 2021,” https://www.cdcfoundation.org/CDCF-ActivePrograms-CDC-FY21?inline (accessed February 7, 2023). 8. Joel White and Doug Badger, “In Order to Defeat COVID-19, the Federal Government Must Modernize Its Public Health Data,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3527, September 3, 2020, https://www.heritage. org/sites/default/files/2020-09/BG3527_0.pdf. 9. S. 15, Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, 118th Congress, introduced January 23, 2023, https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s15/BILLS-118s15is.pdf (accessed March 22, 2023), and H.R. 632, Ensuring Accurate and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act of 2023, 118th Congress, introduced January 30, 2023, https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr632/BILLS-118hr632ih.pdf (accessed March 22, 2023). 10. Doug Badger, “How Congress Can Make Real Progress on Drug Prices,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5016, December 9, 2019, https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2019-12/IB5016_1.pdf.

Introduction

Moderate 63.9%
Pages: 530-532

— 497 — Department of Health and Human Services l OCR should withdraw its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)86 guidance on abortion. OCR should withdraw its June 2022 guidance87 that purports to address patient privacy concerns following the Dobbs decision but is actually a politicized statement in favor of abortion and against Dobbs. HIPAA covers patients in the womb, but this guidance treats them as nonpersons contrary to law. The guidance is unnecessary and contributes to ideologically motivated fearmongering about abortion after Dobbs. AUTHOR’S NOTE: The preparation of this chapter was a collective enterprise of selfless individuals involved in the 2025 Presidential Transition Project. All contributors to this chapter are listed at the front of this volume and include former officials in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies, as well as academics, attorneys, and experts in the health care and insurance fields.

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.