Women's Health Protection Act

The Women's Health Protection Act is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States House of Representatives, aimed at expanding abortion rights established in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. It was first introduced in 2013 by Congresswoman Judy Chu and sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal. In the 117th Congress, the act was re-introduced in response to Whole Woman's Health v. Jackson and later Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In September 2021, it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 218–211, and again by a vote of 219–210 in July 2022, but it was defeated in the Senate on a 46–48 vote in February 2022 and a 49–51 vote in May 2022.
Among key facets of the bill include preventing state and local governments from regulating abortions before fetal viability, or when the mother's life or health is at risk after fetal viability, and preventing government from restricting access to abortion services unless a compelling state interest has been shown in such restrictions. Violations would be investigated and prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

Legislative history

As of November 21, 2025:

Congress	Short title	Bill number	Date introduced	Sponsor	# of cosponsors	Latest status
113th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2013		November 11, 2013	Judy Chu	132	Died in committee.
113th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2013		November 11, 2013	Richard Blumenthal	35	Died in committee.
114th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2015		January 21, 2015	Judy Chu	146	Died in committee.
114th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2015		January 21, 2015	Richard Blumenthal	35	Died in committee.
115th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2017		March 2, 2017	Judy Chu	169	Died in committee.
115th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2017		March 2, 2017	Richard Blumenthal	42	Died in committee.
116th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2019		May 23, 2019	Judy Chu	217	Died in committee.
116th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2019		May 23, 2019	Richard Blumenthal	43	Died in committee.
117th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2021		June 8, 2021	Judy Chu	215	Cloture not invoked.
117th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2021		June 8, 2021	Richard Blumenthal	47	Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction.
117th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2022		June 7, 2022	Judy Chu	3	Passed the House.
117th Congress	Women's Health Protection Act of 2022		May 3, 2022	Richard Blumenthal	0	Cloture not invoked.
118th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023		March 30, 2023	Judy Chu	215	Referred to Subcommittee on Health
118th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023		March 8, 2023	Tammy Baldwin	49	Second reading
119th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025		June 21, 2025	Judy Chu	206	Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction.
119th Congress	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025		June 21, 2025	Tammy Baldwin	46	Referred to Committees of Jurisdiction.