Skip to main content
HR 5862 97th Congress House Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Abortion Abortion, Birth Control, and Family Planning Constitution and constitutional amendments Supreme Court Women's rights

A bill to protect unborn human beings.

Introduced: March 17, 1982 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 97th Congress ended
It never became law before the 97th Congress (1981–1982) 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 13 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 22, 1982
Executive Comment Requested from OPM, OMB.
Apr 15, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Apr 5, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Compensation and Employee Benefits.
Apr 2, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education.
Apr 2, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Employment Opportunities.
Apr 2, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education.
Apr 2, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Select Education.
Mar 23, 1982
Referred to Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Mar 17, 1982
Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
Mar 17, 1982
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Mar 17, 1982
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 17, 1982
Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor.
Mar 17, 1982
Introduced in House
 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

Prohibits Federal involvement in the performance of abortions, except when the life of the mother would be endangered if the child were carried to term.

Includes the following activities within the scope of this prohibition: (1) performance of an abortion by a Federal agency; (2) use of appropriated funds to perform or reimburse or refer for abortions; (3) use of funds for research or training with respect to abortion; or (4) contracting for insurance which pays or reimburses for abortions.

Prohibits any institution receiving Federal funding from discriminating against any employee or student because of such person's opposition to abortion.

Declares that for the purposes of the due process clause of the 14th amendment to the Constitution, human life exists from conception without regard to race, sex, age, health, defect, or condition of dependency, and that "person" includes all human beings.

Recognizes the compelling interest of each State to protect the lives of those whom the State regards as human beings, independent of the status of unborn children under the 14th amendment.

Provides for expedited Supreme Court review with regard to this Act.

What's happening now April 22, 1982

Executive Comment Requested from OPM, OMB.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 2148 Identical bill A bill to protect unborn human beings.
 Committees of jurisdiction 11
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Apr 26, 1982
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5862: A bill to protect unborn human beings.. 97th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5862/
MLA
"H.R. 5862: A bill to protect unborn human beings.." 97th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5862/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5862, 97th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5862/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5862: A bill to protect unborn human beings.](https://openamerica.io/bill/97-HR-5862/)
Report a problem