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S. 87 (117th): Protecting Life in Crisis Act


The text of the bill below is as of Jan 28, 2021 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.


II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 87

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 28, 2021

(for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Braun, Mr. Paul, and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To prohibit the expenditure for an abortion of Federal funds authorized or appropriated for preventing, preparing for, or responding to the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Life in Crisis Act.

2.

Prohibiting the expenditure of COVID–19 funding for any abortion

(a)

Prohibitions

(1)

In general

No funds authorized or appropriated by Federal law for the purpose of preventing, preparing for, or responding to the COVID–19 pandemic, domestically or internationally, and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by Federal law for such purpose, shall be expended for any abortion.

(2)

Specified health benefits coverage

None of the funds authorized or appropriated by Federal law for the purpose described in subsection (a), and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are authorized or appropriated by Federal law for such purpose, shall be expended for, nor shall any credit for such purpose be allowed under the internal revenue laws with respect to, coverage under a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange established pursuant to title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, COBRA continuation coverage, or any other coverage, if such coverage includes coverage of abortion.

(3)

Definition

In this section, the term COBRA continuation coverage means continuation coverage provided pursuant to part 6 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1161 et seq.) (other than under section 609 of such Act), title XXII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300bb–1 et seq.), section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than subsection (f)(1) of such section insofar as it relates to pediatric vaccines), or section 8905a of title 5, United States Code, or under a State program that provides comparable continuation coverage. Such term does not include coverage under a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan within the meaning of section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b)

Treatment of abortions related to rape, incest, or preserving the life of the mother

The limitations established in subsection (a) shall not apply to an abortion—

(1)

if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or

(2)

in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed.

(c)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act may be construed to require a plan or coverage described in subsection (a) to provide coverage of any abortion.