Protecting Motherhood Act
Summary
The "Protecting Motherhood Act" (H.R. 7235) aims to prohibit federal agencies from using the term "birthing person" in official documents. It mandates the use of terms like "female," "mother," "pregnant female," "pregnant woman," or "woman" when referring to females who are pregnant, giving birth, or a parent. The bill provides specific definitions for these terms, emphasizing biological sex assigned at conception.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would change the language used in federal documents related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. It would enforce a specific vocabulary and potentially affect how policies are perceived and implemented. This could impact data collection and analysis related to maternal health.
Potential Benefits
- Reinforces traditional language related to motherhood.
- May provide clarity in legal and official contexts for some individuals.
- Could be seen as affirming the role of women in reproduction and motherhood.
- Potentially reduces ambiguity in specific contexts where the term "birthing person" is considered unclear.
- May align with the preferences of individuals who find the term "birthing person" offensive or exclusionary.
Potential Disadvantages
- May alienate or exclude transgender and non-binary individuals who give birth.
- Could be perceived as discriminatory towards individuals who do not identify as female but are capable of pregnancy and childbirth.
- May complicate data collection and analysis related to maternal health by excluding certain populations.
- Potentially creates legal challenges related to the definition of "female" and "mother."
- May hinder efforts to create inclusive and respectful language in healthcare and policy.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality is debatable. While it doesn't directly infringe on any specific constitutional right, its potential impact on equal protection and non-discrimination could raise concerns under the 5th and 14th Amendments. The government's power to regulate language in its own documents is broad, but not unlimited.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).