REPRODUCTION »» ABORTION ACCESSIBILITY »» TRAP LAWS »» Jan 01, 2024

Targeted Regulation of Abortion Provider (TRAP) laws impose unique and burdensome regulations on doctors and health care facilities which perform abortions. Supporters claim these laws provide safer conditions for women undergoing this procedure. However, most TRAP laws require abortion clinics to install unnecessary expensive equipment, perform extensive renovations that may not be physically possible, or mandate higher employee qualifications than needed. Some TRAP laws allow unannounced state inspections when patients are present. Other TRAP laws require abortion clinics to have hospital admitting privileges which can be nearly impossible to attain. Critics say this regulation is unnecessary because abortion is our safest and most common medical procedure. Less than 0.3% of all patients experiencing a complication require hospitalization. This excellent safety record often prevents abortion clinics from attaining hospital admitting privileges, many of which require at least 5 admissions a year. Supporters claim there is no legitimate reason to require abortion providers to have admitting privileges. There are now at least 23 states with TRAP laws, many of them identical. They say the only purpose of these laws is to force abortion providers out of business. They also say TRAP laws are discriminatory because they don’t apply to other facilities that provide outpatient surgery or other basic medical services. Pending Legislation: H.R.12 - Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023 Sponsor: Rep. Judy Chu (CA) Status: House Subcommittee on Health (Energy and Commerce) Chairperson: Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY) I oppose reforming current TRAP law policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA). I support prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services by: 1.) Before fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from using particular abortion procedures or drugs, offering abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately providing abortion services if delaying risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require providers to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, or comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers who offer medically comparable services to abortions. Additionally, governments may not require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining services. 2.) After fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from performing abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life and health. The same provisions that apply to abortions before viability also apply to necessary abortions after viability. Additionally, states may authorize post-viability abortions in circumstances beyond those that the bill considers necessary. Further, the bill recognizes an individual's right to interstate travel, including for abortion services. 3.) Prohibiting governments from implementing measures that are similar to those restricted by the bill or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. 4.) Permitting the Department of Justice, individuals, or providers to sue states or government officials to enforce this bill, regardless of certain immunity that would otherwise apply. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

Winning Option »» I support prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services by: 1.) Before fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from using particular abortion procedures or drugs, offering abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately providing abortion services if delaying risks the patient's health. Furthermore, governments may not require providers to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, or comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers who offer medically comparable services to abortions. Additionally, governments may not require patients to make medically unnecessary in-person visits before receiving abortion services or disclose their reasons for obtaining services. 2.) After fetal viability, governments may not restrict providers from performing abortions when necessary to protect a patient's life and health. The same provisions that apply to abortions before viability also apply to necessary abortions after viability. Additionally, states may authorize post-viability abortions in circumstances beyond those that the bill considers necessary. Further, the bill recognizes an individual's right to interstate travel, including for abortion services. 3.) Prohibiting governments from implementing measures that are similar to those restricted by the bill or that otherwise single out and impede access to abortion services, unless the measure significantly advances the safety of abortion services or health of patients and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. 4.) Permitting the Department of Justice, individuals, or providers to sue states or government officials to enforce this bill, regardless of certain immunity that would otherwise apply. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.

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