PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, Property.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jun 5, 1998
Human Life Act of 1998 - Amends Federal law to declare that the Congress finds that: (1) the right to life is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person; and (2) the life of each human being begins at fertilization. Declares that Congress recognizes that, for purposes of enforcing the 14th amendment to the Constitution, the word "person" applies to all human beings, irrespective of age, health, function, or condition of dependency, including their unborn offspring at every stage of their biological development including fertilization. Declares that no unborn child shall be deprived of life by any person; but adds that nothing in this Act shall prohibit a law allowing justification to be shown for only those medical procedures required to prevent the death of either the pregnant woman or her unborn offspring, as long as such a law requires every reasonable effort to be made to preserve both their lives.
People & committees
Sen. Smith, Bob [R-NH] · R–NH
Legislative record
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Referred to Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, Property.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5694-5697)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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