HR272-119

What This Bill Does

The Protecting Life and Taxpayers Act creates a broad abortion-related certification condition for federal funds. No federal funds may be provided directly or indirectly, including through contract or subcontract, to an entity unless the entire legal entity, including entities under common control, certifies that during the funded period it will not perform abortions and will not provide funds to another entity that performs abortions. The prohibition has exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest and for cases where a physician certifies that a physical disorder, injury, or illness would place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed.

Who Benefits and How

Anti-abortion advocacy organizations benefit because the bill attaches abortion restrictions to federal funding across legal entities. Federal taxpayers opposed to abortion benefit because their funds cannot go to entities that perform or fund most abortions. Health care entities that do not perform abortions benefit if they face less competition for federal funds from entities that cannot certify compliance. Grant administrators benefit from a single certification framework that applies across direct and indirect funding arrangements.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Abortion providers bear the burden because federal funds are unavailable unless the entire legal entity stops performing or funding most abortions. Entities under common control with abortion providers face the same certification barrier even if the funded program itself does not perform abortions. Patients seeking abortion care may face reduced access if federally funded providers stop services or lose funding. Federal agencies must enforce certification conditions across contracts, subcontracts, grants, and other funding channels.

Key Provisions

• Bars federal funds to entities unless they certify they will not perform or fund abortions during the funded period.
• Extends the certification rule to direct funding, indirect funding, contracts, and subcontracts.
• Defines entity to include the entire legal entity and entities under common control.
• Provides exceptions for rape, incest, and physician-certified life-endangering physical conditions.