H.R.727 - Prohibiting Abortion Industry’s Lucrative Loopholes Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.727, the "Prohibiting Abortion Industry's Lucrative Loopholes Act," aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the sale or transactions involving human fetal tissue. The bill expands the definition of "valuable consideration" to include various forms of payment, gifts, waived fees, and costs associated with the handling of fetal tissue. This legislation seeks to close existing loopholes that allow for the exchange of fetal tissue for profit.
Expected Effects
The likely effect of this bill, if enacted, would be to significantly restrict or eliminate the transfer of human fetal tissue for research purposes. This could impact medical research that relies on such tissue. It would also likely reduce the profitability of organizations involved in abortion services where fetal tissue is currently provided for research.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially reduces incentives for abortion based on financial gain.
- Addresses ethical concerns related to the commercialization of fetal tissue.
- May increase public trust in the handling of fetal tissue.
- Could lead to increased investment in alternative research methods.
- Aligns with the views of individuals and groups who oppose abortion on moral or religious grounds.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May hinder medical research that relies on fetal tissue, potentially slowing down progress in treating diseases.
- Could limit access to potentially life-saving treatments developed using fetal tissue.
- May disproportionately affect researchers and institutions that rely on fetal tissue for their work.
- Could lead to increased costs for research due to the need to find alternative sources of tissue.
- May face legal challenges based on arguments related to bodily autonomy and reproductive rights.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment is complex and subject to interpretation. While the Constitution does not explicitly address fetal tissue research, arguments could be made regarding the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) if fetal tissue is considered an item of commerce crossing state lines. Opponents might argue that the bill infringes upon privacy rights, potentially raising issues under the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, particularly as interpreted in cases related to reproductive rights. The bill does not appear to directly implicate the First Amendment.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).