WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation today preventing abortionists and gender transition providers from evading law enforcement by fleeing across state lines to Washington D.C. after performing abortions and procedures in states where doing so is illegal. Rep. Andrew Clyde introduced the House version of the bill.

“Our nation’s capital should not be a refuge for people who take the lives of children or wreck their bodies with illegal drugs” said Senator Mike Lee. “Criminals on the lam can escape to DC after performing abortions in states where they are illegal, because they know DC will let them get away with it. This bill will repeal DC’s safe harbor for illegal abortionists and peddlers of drugs for transexual procedures, restoring the rule of law to Washington.”

“Both abortion and cross gender hormone drugs have serious, irreversible consequences,” said Rep. Andrew Clyde. “We cannot allow the Left’s woke ideology, under the guise of ‘bodily autonomy,’ to infiltrate our states through the shipping of these drugs with zero legal repercussions. Congress must use its constitutional authority over our nation’s capital to hold D.C. providers liable for undermining state laws and to protect women, children, and the unborn.”

The bill is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, and Alliance Defending Freedom.

“So-called Shield laws protect abortionists, not women. DC's shield law gives broad immunity to abortionists, shielding them from criminal, civil, and professional consequences even when they violate other state pro-life laws. This includes allowing DC abortionists to prescribe and ship dangerous abortion drugs to people living in pro-life states where they are not licensed. Thank you, Rep. Clyde, for working to protect babies and their mothers by introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act to repeal this extremely reckless law.” – Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America

 “FRC is grateful to Rep. Clyde and Sen. Lee for introducing the D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act. Those who harm women and children via abortion or gender transition procedures should not be shielded from the repercussions of violating the law. This bill puts the victims first and helps ensure they can get justice. Washington, D.C. cannot be allowed to shield abortionists and ‘gender transition’ providers from being investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted for trafficking dangerous drugs in violation of state laws. Eleven percent of users experience serious complications, such as hemorrhage and life-threatening infections, after taking the abortion pill. If a woman in a pro-life state receives drugs that will kill her child from D.C. via the mail, the abortionist must be held accountable. If a young person in a pro-family state receives cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers, which can cause blood clots, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, destabilization of certain psychiatric disorders, sterilization, and more, from D.C. via the mail, the provider must be held accountable. D.C. does not have a right to override state laws. States have a right to protect their citizens, and victims must be protected.” – MaryBeth Waddell, Director of Federal Affairs, Family Research Council

“Shield laws are an evil loophole created for abortion providers to free themselves from accountability. Not only do these harmful laws undermine state law, they leave women and children helpless and alone with dangerous drugs and no protections. Representative Clyde’s D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act is a necessary step to hold abortion providers accountable for protecting women and children.” – Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee

“We are grateful to Rep. Andrew Clyde for introducing this bill to repeal the so-called shield laws in Washington, D.C. These unconstitutional ‘shield laws’ open the door for the illegal and illicit flow of dangerous abortion drugs into prolife states, harm women and their unborn children, and protect abortion drug traffickers from legal liability. We commend Rep. Clyde for his leadership to repeal these pernicious laws that undermine the unalienable right to life.” – Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom

Background

The City Council of Washington, D.C. has enacted a “shield law” that legally protects abortionists or prescribers of abortion medication and cross-gender hormones in states where such actions are prohibited. This law prohibits D.C. officials and law enforcement from assisting in out-of-state investigations or prosecutions, providing sanctuary for individuals that break other states’ pro-life or anti-minor transition laws. It also allows individuals and providers to sue for damages if they are targeted by lawsuits originating from out-of-state. The city requires that any subpoena from another state requesting information or testimony must be accompanied by a sworn statement confirming it does not pertain to protected “bodily autonomy” matters before it can be enforced in D.C.

The D.C. Shield Law Repeal Act would:

• Repeal the D.C. Council’s Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022
• Remove legal provisions shielding abortion providers and doctors who prescribe cross-sex hormones to minors in states where such medication and procedures are prohibited

Read exclusive coverage by The Daily Caller here.

Read full text of the bill here.

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