Federal

Pregnancy Resource Center Defense Act

Source: Congress.gov · 494 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes federal criminal and civil penalties for attacks on two types of buildings: facilities that provide counseling about abortion alternatives and places of religious worship. The bill increases the possible punishments for people who attack or damage these buildings. ##

Who It Affects

Individuals who attack or damage facilities providing counseling about abortion alternatives or places of religious worship will face these new penalties. The bill also affects owners or operators of these facilities who may receive financial compensation through civil lawsuits. ##

Key Provisions

* For a first offense involving attacks on abortion-alternative counseling facilities or places of religious worship that do not involve exclusively nonviolent physical obstruction (blocking entry without violence), prison time cannot be more than 3 years instead of longer sentences. (Sec. 2(a)) * Victims of attacks on abortion-alternative counseling facilities or places of religious worship can recover $20,000 per violation in civil lawsuits, in addition to any other penalties. (Sec. 2(b)(1)) * For a first violation against abortion-alternative counseling facilities or places of religious worship that does not involve exclusively nonviolent physical obstruction, victims can recover $25,000, in addition to any other penalties. (Sec. 2(b)(2)) * Buildings that are abortion-alternative counseling facilities or places of religious worship that are destroyed, damaged or burned must result in imprisonment for not less than 7 years. (Sec. 3) ##

What Changes

Federal law now provides specific monetary penalties ($20,000 or $25,000 per violation) for attacks on abortion-alternative counseling facilities and places of religious worship. First-time offenses against these two types of buildings are capped at 3 years imprisonment when no violent physical obstruction occurs. Destruction of these buildings triggers a mandatory minimum prison sentence of not less than 7 years. ##

Important Definitions

The bill does not explicitly define "abortion-alternative services," "attack," "place of religious worship," or "nonviolent physical obstruction." ##

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1771 To amend section 248 of title 18, United States Code, to provide adequate penalties and remedies for attacks on facilities providing counseling about abortion alternatives and attacks on places of religious worship. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 23, 2023 Ms. TENNEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend section 248 of title 18, United States Code, to provide adequate penalties and remedies for attacks on facilities providing counseling about abortion alternatives and attacks on places of religious worship. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pregnancy Resource 4 Center Defense Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:49 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1771.IH H1771 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1771 IH SEC. 2. ATTACKS ON FACILITIES PROVIDING COUNSELING 1 ABOUT ABORTION ALTERNATIVES AND 2 PLACES OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 3 (a) CRIMINAL PENALTIES.—Section 248(b)(1) of 4 title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘, 5 except that for a first offense, if the conduct involved a 6 facility described in subsection (a)(3) that exclusively pro- 7 vides abortion-alternative services or involved a place of 8 religious worship and did not involve exclusively a non- 9 violent physical obstruction, the length of imprisonment 10 shall be not more than 3 years’’ after ‘‘or both’’. 11 (b) CIVIL REMEDIES.—Section 248(c) of title 18, 12 United States Code, is amended— 13 (1) in paragraph (1)(B), in the second sentence, 14 by inserting ‘‘, or $20,000 per violation for conduct 15 involving a facility described in subsection (a)(3) 16 that exclusively provides abortion-alternative services 17 or involving a place of religious worship’’ after ‘‘per 18 violation’’; and 19 (2) in paragraph (2)(B)(i), by inserting ‘‘, 20 $25,000 for a first violation, if the violation involved 21 a facility described in subsection (a)(3) that exclu- 22 sively provides abortion-alternative services or in- 23 volved a place of religious worship and did not in- 24 volve exclusively a nonviolent physical obstruction,’’ 25 after ‘‘physical obstruction’’. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:49 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1771.IH H1771 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1771 IH SEC. 3. DESTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, AND 1 PROPERTY. 2 Section 844(i) of title 18, United States Code, is 3 amended by inserting ‘‘or if the building is a facility de- 4 scribed in section 248(a)(3) that exclusively provides abor- 5 tion-alternative services or is a place of religious worship,’’ 6 before ‘‘shall be imprisoned for not less than 7 years’’. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:49 Apr 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1771.IH H1771 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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