A Republican bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Saving FACE Act of 2026," seeks to amend title 18 of the United States Code. The primary goal is to remove criminal penalties for obstructing access to abortion services. It proposes changing the section heading of section 248 from "clinic" to "church." Additionally, the bill introduces a specific definition for the term "abortion." These changes would modify how certain protections are applied under the law.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?
The bill reduces the scope of criminal penalties by excluding abortion-related actions from the protections previously afforded under section 248.
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill facilitates access to abortion services by stripping away federal criminal penalties for those obstructing such services.
- Scored +5
Does this make abortion easier to get?
The bill removes criminal penalties for obstructing access to abortion services by redefining the scope of section 248.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Redefining protected access: By amending section 248 to exclude abortions from certain protections related to the human reproductive system, the bill changes how the law views access to these services (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Removal of criminal penalties: The bill aims to remove criminal penalties that currently exist for obstructing access to abortion services (Section 2).
- Changes to legal protections: By striking "abortions or other" from subsection (d)(4) and modifying the scope of section 248, the legal protections regarding the human reproductive system are altered (Section 2).
- Redefining scope of the law: The bill changes the section heading from "clinic" to "church," which modifies the focus of the existing law (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill reduces the scope of criminal penalties by excluding abortion-related actions from the protections previously afforded under section 248. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — By removing criminal penalties for obstructing abortion access, the bill impacts reproductive autonomy typically associated with gender equality.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill facilitates access to abortion services by stripping away federal criminal penalties for those obstructing such services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The removal of criminal barriers for abortion services may indirectly benefit low-income individuals seeking reproductive healthcare.
- Healthcare
- Does this make abortion easier to get? — The bill removes criminal penalties for obstructing access to abortion services by redefining the scope of section 248.
- 6/24/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Sheri BiggsRepublican · South Carolina
Michael CloudRepublican · Texas
Christopher SmithRepublican · New Jersey
Marlin StutzmanRepublican · Indiana