I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 686
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the unlawful disposal
of fetal remains.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY23, 2025
Mr. L
ATTA(for himself, Mrs. MILLERof Illinois, Mr. WEBSTERof Florida,
Mr. H
ARRISof Maryland, Mr. WEBERof Texas, and Mr. BABIN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the
unlawful disposal of fetal remains.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting the Dignity 4
of Unborn Children Act of 2025’’. 5
SEC. 2. PROHIBITING UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF FETAL RE-6
MAINS. 7
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended 8
by adding at the end the following: 9
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•HR 686 IH
‘‘CHAPTER 125—UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF 1
FETAL REMAINS 2
‘‘SEC. 2741. UNLAWFUL DISPOSAL OF FETAL REMAINS. 3
‘‘(a) I
NGENERAL.—Whoever recklessly disposes of 4
or abandons fetal remains in a landfill or in any of the 5
navigable waters of the United States shall be imprisoned 6
not more than 3 years or fined under this title, or both. 7
‘‘(b) R
ULE OFCONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-8
tion shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any 9
woman for the disposal of the remains of her unborn child. 10
‘‘(c) D
EFINITIONS.—In this section: 11
‘‘(1) F
ETAL REMAINS.—The term ‘fetal re-12
mains’ means any part of a human fetus that is de-13
ceased by reason of an abortion, but does not in-14
clude any such part that has been cremated. 15
‘‘(2) L
ANDFILL.—The term ‘landfill’ means a 16
sanitary landfill, as such term is defined in section 17
1004(26) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act. 18
‘‘(3) N
AVIGABLE WATERS .—The term ‘navi-19
gable waters’ has the meaning given such term in 20
section 502(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-21
trol Act.’’. 22
Æ
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