HR 1997
108th Congress
House
Crime and Law Enforcement
Abortion
Armed Forces and National Security
Assault
Capital punishment
Conspiracy
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Crimes against women
Drug abuse
Drug traffic
Fetus
Health
Military and naval offenses
Murder
Organized crime
Pregnant women
Prosecution
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Violence
Women
Laci and Conner's Law
Everywhere this bill has been
31 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 1, 2004
Signed by President.
Apr 1, 2004
Became Public Law No: 108-212.
Mar 31, 2004
Presented to President.
Mar 25, 2004
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S3124-3167)
Mar 25, 2004
Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 61 - 38. Record Vote Number: 63.
Mar 25, 2004
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Mar 25, 2004
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 61 - 38. Record Vote Number: 63.
Mar 11, 2004
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 458.
Mar 10, 2004
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Feb 26, 2004
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 529. (consideration: CR H637-668; text of measure as introduced: CR H637-638)
Feb 26, 2004
Received in the Senate.
Feb 26, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Feb 26, 2004
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 254 - 163 (Roll no. 31).
Feb 26, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to House Resolution 529 the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the Lofgren amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Feb 26, 2004
DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 1997.
Feb 26, 2004
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1997 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.
Feb 25, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H609)
Feb 25, 2004
Rule H. Res. 529 passed House.
Feb 24, 2004
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 529 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1997 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. The amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution, shall be considered as adopted. Measure will be considered read. A specified amendment is in order.
Feb 11, 2004
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-420, Part I.
Feb 11, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 242.
Feb 11, 2004
Committee on Armed Services discharged.
Feb 11, 2004
House Committee on Armed Services Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Feb. 11, 2004.
Jan 21, 2004
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 13.
Jan 21, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 15, 2003
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 6 - 3.
Jul 15, 2003
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 8, 2003
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 24, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 7, 2003
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 7, 2003
Introduced in House
Votes taken on this bill
1
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2004 | House · vote #31 | On Passage | Passed | 254–163 | 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.
2 failed 2 pending / other
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SAMDT 2,859 | Murray, Patty | Ruled out of order |
| SAMDT 2,858 | — | Failed |
| HAMDT 465 | Lofgren, Zoe | Failed |
| HAMDT 464 | — | Pending |
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Plain-English summary
Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2003 or Laci and Conner's Law - Provides that: (1) whoever engages in conduct that violates specified provisions of the Federal criminal code, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or specified articles the Uniform Code of Military Justice (conduct constituting certain Federal violent crimes) and thereby causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child who is in utero, shall be guilty of a separate offense; and (2) the punishment for that separate offense shall be the same as that provided under Federal law for that conduct had that injury or death occurred to the unborn child's mother.
Specifies that a violation of such provisions does not require proof that: (1) the person engaging in the conduct had knowledge or should have had knowledge that the victim of the underlying offense was pregnant; or (2) the defendant (or accused) intended to cause the death of, or bodily injury to, the unborn child. Prohibits imposition of the death penalty for an offense under this Act.
Bars prosecution under this Act: (1) of any person for conduct relating to an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman, or a person authorized by law to act on her behalf, has been obtained or for which such consent is implied by law; (2) for conduct relating to any medical treatment of the pregnant woman or her unborn child; or (3) of any woman with respect to her unborn child.
What's happening now
Became Public Law No: 108-212.
Related & companion bills
2
Bill text
6 versions
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
- Enrolled Bill Formatted Text PDF
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
- Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text PDF
- Public Law Formatted Text PDF
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF
Committees of jurisdiction
3
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1997: Laci and Conner's Law. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1997/
"H.R. 1997: Laci and Conner's Law." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1997/.
H.R. 1997, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1997/.
[H.R. 1997: Laci and Conner's Law](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1997/)