WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Prohibiting Federal Emergencies for Abortion Act. The legislation follows reports the Biden Administration may declare a public-health emergency to protect access to abortion services nationwide if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. The bill would block the abuse of this executive authority granted under the Public Health Service Act, including other emergency declarations under the National Emergencies Act and the Stafford Act.

“Democrats will do anything to continue their horrific assault against unborn children. The Prohibiting Federal Emergencies for Abortion Act stops the Biden Administration from exploiting executive privilege to further their pro-abortion agenda. Every life is valuable and must be protected,” said Senator Cramer. 

“President Biden and Democrats are hell-bent on preserving the practice of murdering unborn Americans,” said Senator Rubio. “We should be protecting the lives of innocent babies, not Planned Parenthood’s ability to kill them. I will do everything I can to protect life and block this gross abuse of presidential power.”

Joining Senators Cramer and Rubio are Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Specifically, the Prohibiting Federal Emergencies for Abortion Act would:

  • Prohibit the President from declaring a National Emergency or an emergency declaration under the Stafford Act; and
  • Prohibit the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from declaring a Public Health Emergency for the purposes of:
    • Promoting, supporting or expanding access to abortion; or
    • Taking adverse action against or litigating against states that prohibit or otherwise restrict abortion
  • Define “abortion” as the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device to intentionally:
    • Kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or
    • Prematurely terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to –
      • Increase the probability of a live birth or of preserving the life or health of the child after live birth; or
      • Remove a dead unborn child.

Click here to read the bill.