CV NEWS FEED // Congressman Bob Good, of Virginia, has introduced the Life Act, a legislative proposal aimed at prohibiting all abortions at the federal level.
According to a press release, the bill, which Good introduced in response to the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs v. Jackson decision, seeks to criminalize the performance or prescription of abortions by licensed medical professionals who receive federal funding, starting from fertilization onward.
Reflecting on the anniversary of the Dobbs decision, Good emphasized that the ruling rightly returned the authority over abortion regulations to elected representatives and the public, rather than centralizing it solely with states.
He underscored the significant impact of abortion on American demographics, stating, “There are 63 million fewer Americans alive today because of Roe v. Wade.” He continued, “In a post-Roe America, Congress must legislate to protect life. It is our duty to follow the science that life begins at conception and end abortion so that every American has the chance to live.”
Several organizations, including Students for Life Action, Heritage Action, Concerned Women for America, Live Action, and the National Pro-Life Alliance, support the Life Act, which also has received endorsements from a majority of House Republicans.
The bill aims to strengthen enforcement of pro-life laws. It includes provisions to protect health care providers who act in good faith to save a woman’s life and ensures appropriate treatment for circumstances including ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
Additionally, the bill safeguards a woman’s access to contraception prior to fertilization and exempts mothers from prosecution in certain situations related to the death of their child.
In terms of coverage and funding, the Life Act would prevent federally regulated health care programs and plans, including Medicaid, CHIP, and plans under the Affordable Care Act, from covering abortions. The bill also prohibits abortion coverage in employer-sponsored health plans regulated under ERISA and those for federal employees.
