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H.R. 6466: Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act

This bill, titled the Forced Abortion Prevention and Accountability Act, seeks to create federal penalties for the non-consensual administration of abortion-inducing drugs to women. Here are the key points of the legislation:

Key Provisions

Penalties for Non-Consensual Abortions: The bill establishes that it is illegal to knowingly and intentionally administer an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her informed consent. Violators can face fines and/or imprisonment of up to 25 years.
Attempts and Conspiracies: Individuals who attempt or conspire to administer an abortion-inducing drug without consent would face the same penalties as those who successfully do so.
Increased Penalties for Serious Harm: If the non-consensual administration results in serious bodily injury or death, the offender could face additional imprisonment of up to 25 years, on top of any other penalties.
Civil Remedies for Victims: Women who are administered abortion-inducing drugs without consent may sue for damages. The court could grant:
- Compensatory damages for physical or psychological harm.
- Statutory damages equating to three times the cost of the injuries.
- Punitive damages.
Attorney's Fees: Courts would be required to award reasonable attorney’s fees to plaintiffs who prevail in civil actions. Conversely, if a defendant wins and the plaintiff’s case is deemed frivolous, the court may award the defendant’s legal fees.

Terminology Used

Informed Consent: This is defined as a woman’s voluntary agreement to take an abortion-inducing drug after being fully informed about the risks and consequences.
Abortion-Inducing Drug: This term includes any drug or substance intended to cause an abortion, which specifically mentions medications like mifepristone or misoprostol.
Serious Bodily Injury: This term refers to significant injuries as defined in existing legislation.
Unborn Child: Defined as any fetus recognized under existing law.

Clerical and Chapter Changes

The bill will update the relevant sections of the U.S. Code to reflect these new definitions and penalties, including changing the chapter heading from "Partial-birth abortions" to simply "Abortions." This administrative update is part of the broader effort to align legal language with the contents and focus of the act.