Overview
Title
To prohibit the Federal Government from conducting, funding, approving, or otherwise supporting any research involving human fetal tissue that is obtained pursuant to an induced abortion, and to prohibit the solicitation or knowing acquisition, receipt, or acceptance of a donation of such tissue.
ELI5 AI
The bill S. 987 wants the government to stop using certain tiny pieces from unborn babies that didn't survive abortions in science projects, but says it's okay to use them if they come from pregnancies that ended naturally.
Summary AI
S. 987 seeks to prevent the Federal Government from participating in research involving human fetal tissue obtained through induced abortions. It allows for research using fetal tissue acquired after miscarriages or stillbirths and promotes developing ethical cell lines not derived from aborted fetal tissue. The bill also prohibits the acquisition or donation of fetal tissue if it's known to be procured from an induced abortion. Amendments to existing public health laws are proposed to support these objectives.
Published
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, introduced in the 119th Congress, seeks to restrict the use of human fetal tissue for research purposes if that tissue is obtained through an induced abortion. Under this act, titled the "Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025," federal departments, agencies, or offices would be prohibited from conducting, funding, or supporting any related research. The bill, however, allows for the development of new cell lines that are not derived from such tissue. The legislation also specifies conditions under which federal research may be conducted on fetal tissue obtained from miscarriages or stillbirths. Additionally, the bill seeks to amend sections of the Public Health Service Act, introducing definitions for terms like "miscarriage," "stillbirth," and "unborn child," and lays out stringent guidelines concerning the solicitation or acquisition of such tissue.
Summary of Significant Issues
One significant issue is the absolute prohibition on utilizing fetal tissue from induced abortions in scientific research. This could limit the potential for discovering important medical advancements as such research has in the past contributed to significant medical discoveries. The bill's narrow allowance for research only on tissue obtained from miscarriages or stillbirths may also be contested for its restrictive nature.
Another point of concern is the definition provided for "miscarriage" and "stillbirth," which is tied to a 20-week gestational threshold. This fixed cutoff is seen as arbitrary and may not align with diverse medical practices and definitions.
The complexity and specificity of the legislative language could present accessibility issues, making understanding and compliance challenging for organizations and researchers unfamiliar with legal jargon. Furthermore, the bill's amendments adjust references within the law by striking and redesignating sections, which could lead to interpretation complications.
Impact on the Public Broadly
This bill could have wide-ranging impacts on scientific research and public health. By limiting the sources of fetal tissue for research, the legislation may slow progress in fields like developmental biology, genetic research, and regenerative medicine. Public health advancements that previously relied on such research could face delays or need to find alternative methods.
For the broader public, there can be implications for the development of vaccines and treatments for diseases that benefit from this type of research. There may also be ethical debates on balancing the respect for potential life and the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits existing lives.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Researchers and Medical Institutions: The most directly affected group includes researchers and medical institutions, who would need to navigate the newly established legal landscape. They might face increased administrative burdens to demonstrate compliance with source requirements for fetal tissue, impeding their capacity to conduct research swiftly and effectively.
Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Advocates: This bill clearly aligns with pro-life perspectives, which advocate for minimizing the use of fetal tissue from induced abortions, citing ethical considerations about the sanctity of unborn life. Pro-choice advocates, however, may argue that the restrictions could hinder scientific progress and limit research opportunities aimed at improving women's health.
Federal Agencies: Agencies involved in health research and funding may see reduced flexibility in supporting diverse medical research projects. This could lead to a narrower focus in federally funded research initiatives, impacting future policy and development within public health sectors.
In summary, the bill has the potential to reshape the landscape of scientific research involving fetal tissue, presenting ethical challenges and operational obstacles for various stakeholders involved. Balancing ethical considerations with the pursuit of scientific advancement will be central to the discussions surrounding this legislation.
Issues
The prohibition on research involving human fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions is absolute, as stated in Section 2(a)(1). This lack of exceptions might limit the potential medical and scientific benefits that could be derived from such research, raising significant ethical and public policy debates about the balance between ethical concerns and scientific advancement.
Section 2(b) introduces a significant change to the Public Health Service Act by limiting permissible research exclusively to tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth. This amendment could impact the scope of federally funded research programs and draw criticism for not considering alternative views or the diversity of medical opinions regarding research on fetal tissue.
The definition of 'miscarriage' and 'stillbirth' provided in Section 2(b)(5) might be contentious due to its reliance on a strict 20-week threshold. This cutoff could be seen as arbitrary, with potential implications for how research is conducted and regulated across varying medical contexts.
Section 3(a) addresses the prohibition against solicitation or acquisition of human fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions. The complexity and specificity of the language used can lead to misunderstandings or misapplications, especially for those not well-versed in legal terminology, which raises accessibility concerns about the legislation.
The requirement that tissue intended for transplantation must be designated explicitly for that purpose, as noted in Section 2(b)(3)(A), introduces additional regulatory conditions. These conditions are not clearly defined, potentially complicating compliance and enforcement for researchers and medical institutions.
Section 2(b)(2) revises the Public Health Service Act to establish a program only for tissue obtained after miscarriages or stillbirths, which may overlook or dismiss the diverse potential use cases and scientific questions that could otherwise be explored with fetal tissue obtained from induced abortions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act establishes its name, which is the “Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025.”
2. No research involving human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an induced abortion Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section prohibits any federal research involving human fetal tissue obtained through an induced abortion, but allows for the development of ethical cell lines not derived from such tissue. It amends the Public Health Service Act to allow research on fetal tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth and defines key terms related to fetal tissue.
3. Prohibition against solicitation or knowing acquisition, receipt, or acceptance of a donation of human fetal tissue knowing that the tissue was obtained pursuant to an induced abortion Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section changes the law to prohibit anyone from asking for or accepting human fetal tissue if they know it comes from an abortion. It updates the Public Health Service Act to remove certain clauses and adjust references within the law.