# Plain Language Summary: Protecting Life in Crisis Act

This bill prevents federal money set aside for COVID-19 response from being used to pay for abortions. Specifically, it blocks any COVID-19 funding—whether spent domestically or internationally—from going toward abortion procedures. The restriction applies broadly to all federal dollars authorized or appropriated for preventing, preparing for, or responding to the pandemic, as well as any trust funds that receive COVID-19 money.

The bill also extends this restriction to health insurance coverage. If a health insurance plan receives any COVID-19 federal funding, that plan cannot cover abortion services. This affects people getting insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges, COBRA continuation coverage (the program that lets people keep health insurance after leaving a job), and other federally-supported health plans. The bill essentially says that if a health plan uses any COVID-19 money, it cannot include abortion coverage, and the federal government cannot provide tax credits to help people pay for plans that do cover abortion.

There are two exceptions built into the bill. Federal COVID-19 funds can still be used for abortions in cases where the pregnancy results from rape or incest, or when a doctor certifies that the pregnancy poses a life-threatening danger to the woman and an abortion is necessary to save her life. Beyond these exceptions, the bill prevents any COVID-19 federal funding from supporting abortion services or insurance plans that include abortion coverage.

Protecting Life in Crisis Act

Babin, Brian

Protecting Life in Crisis Act This bill specifies that federal funds allocated for COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) response efforts may not, in general, be used for abortions. Current law generally prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions through language included in appropriations bills, such as the Hyde Amendment. The bill also restricts the use of federal tax credits or other federal funding for health insurance coverage if the coverage includes abortions.