Skip to main content
S 61 117th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Abortion Assault and harassment offenses Civil actions and liability Crime victims Crimes against children Crimes against women Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Government information and archives Health information and medical records Health personnel Medical ethics Medical tests and diagnostic methods Sex offenses Women's health

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Introduced: January 27, 2021 Introduced by: Graham, Lindsey Republican · South Carolina See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 27, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 27, 2021
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

This bill establishes a new criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more.

A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both.

The bill provides exceptions for an abortion (1) that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. A physician who performs or attempts to perform an abortion under an exception must comply with specified requirements.

A woman who undergoes a prohibited abortion may not be prosecuted for violating or conspiring to violate the provisions of this bill.

What's happening now January 27, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 8814 Related bill Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act
  • HR 1080 Related bill Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 36
All 36 Republican 36
R
Cassidy, Bill
Louisiana · Feb 4, 2021
 R
Barrasso, John
Wyoming · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Cornyn, John
Texas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Cruz, Ted
Texas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Ernst, Joni
Iowa · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Fischer, Deb
Nebraska · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Hagerty, Bill
Tennessee · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Hawley, Josh
Missouri · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Hoeven, John
North Dakota · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Hyde-Smith, Cindy
Mississippi · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Johnson, Ron
Wisconsin · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Kennedy, John
Louisiana · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Lankford, James
Oklahoma · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Lee, Mike
Utah · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Paul, Rand
Kentucky · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Risch, James E.
Idaho · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Scott, Rick
Florida · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Scott, Tim
South Carolina · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Sullivan, Dan
Alaska · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Tuberville, Tommy
Alabama · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jan 27, 2021
 R
Young, Todd
Indiana · Jan 27, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 61: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-61/
MLA
"S. 61: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-61/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 61, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-61/.
Markdown link
[S. 61: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-61/)
Report a problem