There’s a bill in Congress that would write abortion into federal law and put it above the protections states have passed for unborn children. It’s H.R. 12, and its sponsors call it the “Women’s Health Protection Act.” Rep. Judy Chu of California introduced it in June 2025, and 209 Democrats have signed on as cosponsors.

Seven of those cosponsors are from right here in Pennsylvania. That’s every Democrat in Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation, and every one of them signed on as an original cosponsor the day the bill was introduced.

What H.R. 12 would do

This bill doesn’t need any exaggerating. Here’s what the text itself says.

• It overrides state law. H.R. 12 says it “shall supersede any inconsistent Federal or State law,” including laws passed before it. A state’s pro-life protections wouldn’t stand in its way.
• Before viability, it ties every state’s hands. It bars any ban on abortion before viability, along with limits on abortion drugs and methods and on abortion by telemedicine. Governments couldn’t require “medically unnecessary in-person visits,” and they couldn’t require a woman to say why she’s seeking an abortion.
• After viability, the abortion provider decides. The bill allows abortion after viability whenever, in the “good-faith medical judgement” of the treating provider, it’s “necessary to protect the life or health of the patient.” It sets no point in pregnancy where that exception stops, and it says a state “may provide additional circumstances” on top of it.
• It takes aim at parents. The bill’s own findings list “mandatory parental involvement laws” among the things its authors say have “obstructed” access to abortion.

That third point is why pro-life Americans say H.R. 12 means abortion up to birth. The bill writes a “health” exception with no cutoff and puts the decision in the hands of the person performing the abortion. Its supporters call that health care. It’s a federal override of the protections states have passed for children before birth.

Why November 3rd decides it

H.R. 12 hasn’t had a hearing or a vote. It was referred to two House committees in June 2025, and it’s been sitting there ever since. All 209 of its cosponsors are Democrats. Not a single Republican has signed on.

So here’s what this comes down to. Whichever party controls the U.S. House after November 3rd decides whether H.R. 12 ever gets a vote. It would still need the Senate and a president’s signature, but a bill that never gets a House vote never gets anywhere. Every seat in the House is on the ballot this fall, and seven of Pennsylvania’s own members have already put their names on this one.

Add your name: Stop H.R. 12

Right to Life Pennsylvania has started a petition to stop H.R. 12, and I want every pro-life Pennsylvanian on it. It takes less than a minute to add your name and stand against a federal law that would override protections for unborn children in every state.

If you stood with us against H.R. 12 last year, thank you. This is a new petition for the fight ahead, so please add your name again.

Can’t see the button? Sign the petition to stop H.R. 12.

Then, if you can, please chip in to help Right to Life Pennsylvania reach pro-life voters before November 3rd. The fight over H.R. 12 will be settled by who shows up this fall, and I want every pro-life Pennsylvanian to know what’s at stake.

For Life,
Lydia Dorr
Right to Life Pennsylvania

P.S. Seven of Pennsylvania’s members of Congress have already cosponsored H.R. 12, a bill that would override state protections for unborn children. Whether it ever gets a vote comes down to who controls the U.S. House after November 3rd. Add your name to stop H.R. 12.