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This bill would make it a federal crime to recklessly throw away or abandon fetal remains in a landfill or in U.S. navigable waters. A person who does this could face up to 3 years in prison, a fine, or both. The bill also says that a woman cannot be prosecuted under this law for the disposal of the remains of her unborn child. It defines fetal remains as parts of a human fetus that died because of an abortion, except for remains that have been cremated.
- It adds a new federal crime to the U.S. criminal code for unlawful disposal of fetal remains.
- The ban applies only when someone acts recklessly and disposes of or abandons the remains in a landfill or in navigable waters.
- The bill does not allow the government to charge a woman for disposing of the remains of her own unborn child.
- It also defines key terms, including what counts as fetal remains, a landfill, and navigable waters.
Official Summaries
Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act of 2025
This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for recklessly disposing of or abandoning fetal remains in a landfill or in any navigable waters of the United States.
The term fetal remains means any part (except a cremated part) of a deceased human fetus following an abortion.
A violator is subject to a fine, up to three years in prison, or both.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 686 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 686
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the unlawful
disposal of fetal remains.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2025
Mr. Latta (for himself, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Webster of
Florida, Mr. Harris of Maryland, Mr. Weber of Texas, and Mr. Babin)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the unlawful
disposal of fetal remains.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting the Dignity of Unborn
Children Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITING UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF FETAL REMAINS.
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``CHAPTER 125--UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF FETAL REMAINS
``SEC. 2741. UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF FETAL REMAINS.
``(a) In General.--Whoever recklessly disposes of or abandons fetal
remains in a landfill or in any of the navigable waters of the United
States shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years or fined under this
title, or both.
``(b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the disposal of
the remains of her unborn child.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Fetal remains.--The term `fetal remains' means any
part of a human fetus that is deceased by reason of an
abortion, but does not include any such part that has been
cremated.
``(2) Landfill.--The term `landfill' means a sanitary
landfill, as such term is defined in section 1004(26) of the
Solid Waste Disposal Act.
``(3) Navigable waters.--The term `navigable waters' has
the meaning given such term in section 502(7) of the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act.''.
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