PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.4965 / 107th Congress

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 521.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 19, 2002

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician or other individual from knowingly performing a partial-birth abortion, except when necessary to save the life of a mother that is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury.Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion.Authorizes a defendant accused of an offense under this Act to seek a hearing before the State Medical Board on whether the physician's conduct was necessary to save the life of the mother.Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] · R–OH

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
154 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 521.

  2. Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

  3. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 274 - 151, 1 Present (Roll no. 343). (text: CR H5353-5354)

    House roll call 343 · Individual votes
  5. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 274 - 151, 1 Present (Roll no. 343).(text: CR H5353-5354)

    House roll call 343 · Individual votes
  6. On motion to recommit Failed by recorded vote: 187 - 241 (Roll no. 342).

    House roll call 342 · Individual votes
  7. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Baldwin motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment adding language making provision for the health of the mother.

  8. Ms. Baldwin moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.

  9. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  10. Ms. Baldwin moved to recommit to Judiciary.

  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with two hours of debate on H.R. 4965.

  12. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4965 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.

  13. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 498. (consideration: CR H5352-5374)

  14. Rule H. Res. 498 passed House.

  15. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 498 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4965 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.

  16. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 366.

  17. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-604.

  18. Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-604.

  19. Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 8.

  20. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  21. Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 8 - 3.

  22. Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  23. Subcommittee Hearings Held.

  24. Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

  25. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  26. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1096-1097)

  27. Introduced in House

  28. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4965 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4965 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4965 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4965 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources