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HR 796 103th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Abortion Abortion clinics Abortion counseling Assault Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liability Clinics Damages Destruction of property Families Family planning and birth control Federal preemption Fines (Penalties) Freedom of speech Government Operations and Politics Guardian and ward Health Health facilities Injunctions

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993

Introduced: February 3, 1993 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 34 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 17, 1994
Laid on the table. See S. 636 for further action.
Nov 19, 1993
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
Nov 18, 1993
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 18, 1993
On passage Passed by voice vote.
Nov 18, 1993
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by voice vote.
Nov 18, 1993
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 246 (Roll no. 582).
Nov 18, 1993
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Nov 18, 1993
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions.
Nov 18, 1993
Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
Nov 18, 1993
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Nov 18, 1993
The previous question was ordered without objection.
Nov 18, 1993
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 796.
Nov 18, 1993
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 313, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with thirty minutes of debate.
Nov 18, 1993
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 313, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with ten minutes of debate.
Nov 18, 1993
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 313, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Delay amendment.
Nov 18, 1993
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 313, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCollum amendment.
Nov 18, 1993
The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael J. Kopetski to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Nov 18, 1993
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 313 and Rule XXIII.
Nov 18, 1993
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 796 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. All points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Nov 18, 1993
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 313. (consideration: CR H10074-10109)
Nov 18, 1993
Rule H. Res. 313 passed House.
Nov 18, 1993
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
Nov 18, 1993
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 17, 1993
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 313 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 796 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. All points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Oct 22, 1993
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 160.
Oct 22, 1993
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 103-306.
Sep 14, 1993
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Sep 14, 1993
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Mar 25, 1993
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).
Mar 25, 1993
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 10, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime and Criminal Justice.
Feb 4, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E307)
Feb 3, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 3, 1993
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Nov 18, 1993 House · vote #582 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 182–246 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 4

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

3 agreed to 1 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 405 Smith, Christopher H. An amendment in the nature of a substitute to specify that actions prohibited under the measure must occur ne… Failed Nov 18, 1993
HAMDT 404 Schumer, Charles E. An amendment to define "intimidation" under the bill as actions that cause a reasonable fear of bodily harm. Agreed to Nov 18, 1993
HAMDT 403 — An amendment exempting parents or legal guardians from the penalty provisions of the bill when their activiti… Agreed to Nov 18, 1993
HAMDT 402 — An amendment to clarify that the provisions of the bill shall not interfere with the authority of States to e… Agreed to Nov 18, 1993
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit: (1) intentionally injuring, intimidating, or interfering with any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction because that person or any other person or class of persons is obtaining or providing reproductive health services; or (2) intentionally damaging or destroying the property of a facility because that facility provides reproductive health services. Subjects violators to specified penalties (including up to life imprisonment if death results) or civil remedies, except that a parent or legal guardian or a minor shall not be subject to such a penalty or remedy insofar as such activities are directed exclusively at that minor.

Authorizes civil actions by aggrieved persons, the Attorney General, and State attorneys general for violations. Specifies that in any such action: (1) the court may award appropriate relief (including temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief) and compensatory and punitive damages for each person aggrieved by the violation; and (2) with respect to compensatory damages, the aggrieved person may elect, at any time before the rendering of final judgment, to recover an award of statutory damages in the amount of $5,000 per violation in lieu of actual damages. Authorizes the court to award reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses to the prevailing party, other than the United States.

Specifies that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct (including peaceful picketing or other peaceful demonstration) protected from legal prohibition by the first amendment or interfere with the authority of States to enforce State or local laws regulating the provision of reproductive health services; and (2) the Congress does not intend this Act to provide the exclusive remedies with respect to the conduct prohibited by it, nor to preempt State legislation that may provide such remedies.

What's happening now March 17, 1994

Laid on the table. See S. 636 for further action.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • S 636 Procedurally related Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994
  • HRES 313 Procedurally related Providing for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 796) to assure freedom of access to clinic entrances.
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Democratic 10
D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Oct 12, 1993
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Jun 9, 1993
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Apr 2, 1993
 D
Mfume, Kweisi
Maryland · Apr 2, 1993
 D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Apr 2, 1993
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Apr 2, 1993
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 18, 1993
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Mar 4, 1993
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Feb 17, 1993
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 17, 1993
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 796: Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-796/
MLA
"H.R. 796: Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-796/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 796, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-796/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 796: Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1993](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-796/)
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