Healthcare (Women's Health)

HR 48, the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act, requires abortion providers performing an abortion to first conduct an ultrasound, explain the images, display them to the patient, and describe key details like embryo/fetus size, heartbeat (if visible), and organ development. It applies to all abortion providers in interstate commerce, directly affecting patients seeking abortions and the providers who perform them. The bill includes an exception for medical emergencies endangering the mother’s life, and explicitly allows patients to decline viewing the images without penalty. Violations could result in civil fines up to $250,000 per incident or patient lawsuits for damages.

This bill prohibits U.S. government funds from being used to support organizations (both foreign and domestic) that provide, promote, or fund abortion services abroad, including referrals, counseling, or training related to abortions. It directly affects foreign NGOs, multilateral organizations, and domestic groups receiving U.S. aid if they perform or support such activities, even within programs funded by the U.S. government. The restriction includes all forms of financial support and co-location of abortion services with other funded programs, with exceptions only for abortions resulting from rape or incest, or when the mother's life is endangered. This policy change alters how U.S. foreign aid is allocated to ensure funds do not support abortion-related services.

HR 799, the Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2025, requires healthcare providers to notify a minor's parents (or legal guardian) in writing before performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor under 18, with a 96-hour waiting period after notification. Parents may then seek a federal court injunction to halt the procedure, which would remain in effect until the court rules. The bill includes a medical emergency exception allowing abortions without notification if a physician certifies a life-threatening condition for the minor. This law directly affects minors under 18 seeking abortions, their parents/guardians, and healthcare providers performing such procedures in facilities receiving federal funds or operating across state lines.

SJRES 103 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule on reproductive health services for veterans. The resolution, if passed, would block the VA rule from taking effect by invoking the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code), meaning the rule published in the Federal Register (December 31, 2025) would have no legal force. This directly affects the VA’s ability to implement new guidelines for reproductive health services at its facilities, preserving existing policies instead. The resolution does not create new policy but halts a specific administrative rule.

The Pregnancy.Gov Act requires the creation of a federal website, pregnancy.gov, to help pregnant and postpartum women find local resources. The website must allow users to search by ZIP code, filter services by distance (1-100 miles), and provide feedback on usability. It prohibits listing organizations that provide or support abortions (including abortion counseling, referrals, or financial support) and excludes such entities from receiving federal grants for resource aggregation. Within 180 days of launch, the government must report to Congress on website traffic, user experience, and gaps in available services, with multilingual access required.

# Summary of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026 This Act provides funding for various federal agencies and departments under the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations category for fiscal year 2026. The legislation contains over 750 sections with detailed provisions governing how funds may be used, restrictions on certain activities, and requirements for transparency and reporting. Key provisions include: 1. **Restrictions on Healthcare Coverage**: Prohibits funds for gender-affirming care in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (Section 761) and limits abortion coverage except in cases where the mother's life is endangered or the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest (Sections 809, 818). 2. **Executive Compensation Limits**: Imposes restrictions on pay increases for senior executive positions, including Executive Schedule positions (Sections 737-746), with specific provisions preventing pay rate increases for certain positions during calendar year 2026. 3. **District of Columbia Provisions**: Contains numerous restrictions on how District of Columbia funds may be spent, including prohibitions on: - Enforcing certain abortion-related laws (Section 818) - Implementing certain voting rights or criminal justice reforms (Sections 825, 827) - Legalizing recreational marijuana (Section 830) - Enforcing certain environmental regulations (Section 821) 4. **Prohibitions on Certain Activities**: - Bans implementation of certain executive orders related to voting access (Section 756) - Prohibits funds for vaccine or mask mandates (Section 757) - Restricts funding for entities that engage in "fact-checking" or credibility rating of news outlets (Section 758) - Prohibits funding for certain types of research or medical procedures 5. **Transparency Requirements**: Mandates detailed reporting on conference costs, travel expenses, and other expenditures (Section 738). The Act serves as a comprehensive funding measure for financial services and general government operations while embedding numerous policy restrictions on how those funds may be used across federal agencies and the District of Columbia.

HR 4964, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, requires physicians performing abortions on minors traveling across state lines to provide 24 hours of actual or constructive notice to the minor's parent before the procedure. It directly affects minors (under 18) seeking abortions in a state different from their residence, their parents, and healthcare providers. Key provisions mandate parental notification unless exceptions apply - such as medical emergencies, court waivers, verified abuse disclosures, or the minor being accompanied by a documented parent. The law aims to ensure compliance with parental involvement requirements in the minor’s home state, with penalties for noncompliance including fines or imprisonment for physicians.

HR 679 nullifies specific changes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made in January 2023 to the safety rules (REMS) for the abortion pill mifepristone. The bill prohibits the FDA from implementing any future safety rules for mifepristone that are substantially similar to the nullified changes. This directly affects the FDA's regulatory authority over mifepristone, which could impact how healthcare providers prescribe the medication and how patients access it. The bill focuses solely on reversing the FDA's 2023 modifications without altering the drug's broader approval status.

This bill requires providers receiving federal funds to provide detailed, FDA-approved drug warnings about chemical abortions to patients at least 24 hours before the procedure. It mandates that providers highlight warnings and adverse reactions from the drug label, read them to patients, and obtain written confirmation. Non-compliant providers risk losing federal funding, and patients can sue for damages if providers fail to follow these requirements. The law specifically excludes medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancies or miscarriage treatment from its definition of "chemical abortion."

HJRES 144 is a congressional disapproval resolution targeting a specific rule issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on December 31, 2025, which addressed "Reproductive Health Services" (90 Fed. Reg. 61310). This resolution directs Congress to disapprove the VA rule under Chapter 8 of Title 5, U.S. Code, meaning the rule would have no legal effect if passed. The bill directly affects the VA's implementation of reproductive health services for veterans, as it seeks to nullify the agency's existing policy. This is a procedural measure, not a substantive policy change, aimed solely at blocking the VA's rule through congressional action.