[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8926 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8926

 To require an Inspector General report on domestic violent extremism 
                       against pregnancy centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 20, 2022

Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mrs. 
 Lesko, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Banks, Mr. Harris, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, 
Ms. Foxx, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. Norman, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. 
Guest, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Feenstra, Mr. 
Aderholt, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Babin, Mr. Mooney, Mr. 
 Latta, Mr. Bentz, Mr. Wenstrup, Mr. Gooden of Texas, Mr. Luetkemeyer, 
Mr. Webster of Florida, Mr. Buck, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Duncan) introduced 
    the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require an Inspector General report on domestic violent extremism 
                       against pregnancy centers.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Pregnancy Care Centers Act 
of 2022''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Pregnancy centers are community-based, non-profit 
        organizations that provide compassionate support and resources 
        to women and couples facing unexpected pregnancy and offer 
        life-affirming alternatives to abortion.
            (2) In 2019 alone, 2,700 pregnancy centers across the 
        United States provided almost 2,000,000 people free services 
        and material items that were estimated to be worth 
        approximately $270,000,000.
            (3) The services, which are generally provided at no cost 
        to the patient, included almost 732,000 pregnancy tests, more 
        than 486,000 free ultrasounds, 160,200 STI/STD tests, offering 
        more than 291,000 clients parenting and prenatal education 
        programs, offering more than 21,000 clients after-abortion 
        support, offering more than 881,000 students sexual risk 
        avoidance education presentations, providing nearly 1.3 million 
        packs of diapers, providing more than two million baby outfits, 
        providing over 30,000 new car seats, and providing over 19,000 
        strollers.
            (4) In 2019 alone, pregnancy centers were served by 68,832 
        workers and 80 percent of these workers (53,855) were 
        volunteers. The pregnancy centers employed nearly 3,800 
        licensed medical staff, and over 6,400 licensed medical 
        professionals volunteered their time and skills. In total, 
        10,215 licensed medical staff provided care through pregnancy 
        centers across the Nation.
            (5) From 2016 to 2020, an estimated 828,131 unborn babies' 
        lives have been saved through the work of pregnancy care 
        centers.
            (6) Section 248 of title 18, United States Code, 
        established penalties (including prison sentences) for anyone 
        who intentionally damages or destroys the property of a 
        pregnancy center or ``by force or threat of force or by 
        physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or 
        interferes with or attempts to injure'' any person because he 
        or she is obtaining services from or providing services at a 
        pregnancy center.
            (7) In June 2022, the Department of Homeland Security 
        issued a Summary of Terrorism Threat to the United States 
        highlighting the danger posed by domestic violent extremists, 
        but this term is not defined in statute and a common definition 
        does not exist within Federal agencies.
            (8) On Friday, June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the 
        United States issued the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women's 
        Health Organization decision holding, ``The Constitution does 
        not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; 
        and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the 
        people and their elected representatives''.
            (9) Seven weeks earlier, on Monday, May 2, 2022, a leaked 
        draft opinion was published, constituting an unprecedented 
        attack on the judicial branch.
            (10) Following the Dobbs leak, the United States saw a rise 
        of domestic violent extremism against pro-life centers and 
        organizations, pregnancy care centers, and religious 
        institutions. These terror attacks included arson, fire 
        bombings, vandalism, and other property damage.
            (11) Pregnancy centers alone reported more than 60 attacks 
        between May 3, 2022, and August 21, 2022.
            (12) On May 3, 2022, Trotter House in Austin, Texas, was 
        vandalized and perpetrators graffitied derogatory comments as 
        well as digging up memorial bricks and throwing them into the 
        grass.
            (13) On May 4, 2022, CareNet in Frederick, Maryland, was 
        also vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.
            (14) On May 5, 2022, the Southeast Portland Pregnancy 
        Resource Center in Portland, Oregon, had its windows broken and 
        the building was spray painted.
            (15) First Step Pregnancy Resource Center in Bangor, Maine, 
        reported that its sign and sign holder were ripped off.
            (16) On May 7, 2022, both First Care Women's Health in 
        Manassas, Virginia, and Loreto House in Denton, Texas, were 
        vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.
            (17) On Mother's Day, May 8, 2022, after the Office of 
        Wisconsin Family Action was set on fire, a ``Communique'' 
        posted online and signed ``Jane's Revenge'' stated, ``This was 
        only a warning . . . Wisconsin is the first flashpoint, but we 
        are all over the US, and we will issue no further warnings.''.
            (18) The Communique further stated, ``We demand the 
        disbanding of all anti-choice establishments, fake clinics, and 
        violent anti-choice groups within the next thirty days . . .'' 
        and ``we will not stop, we will not back down''.
            (19) Between May 7-8, 2022, Woman to Woman Pregnancy 
        Resource Center in Denton, Texas, was vandalized.
            (20) On May 15, 2022, BirthRight of Frederick in Frederick, 
        Maryland, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.
            (21) On May 11, 2022, Family Life Services in Ypsilanti, 
        Michigan, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.
            (22) On May 13, 2022, Alpha Pregnancy Center in 
        Reisterstown, Maryland, was vandalized with spray paint of pro-
        abortion messages that were signed ``Jane's Revenge''.
            (23) On May 15, 2022, His Nesting Place Home for Mothers & 
        Children in Long Beach, California, was attacked.
            (24) On May 25, 2022, Next Step Pregnancy Services in 
        Lynnwood, Washington, was vandalized with graffiti reading ``if 
        abortion isn't safe, then you aren't either'' and signed 
        ``Jane's Revenge''.
            (25) On May 18, 2022, employees' cars and the sign at 
        Women's Hope Medical Clinic in Auburn, Alabama, were keyed.
            (26) On May 27, 2022, Dove Medical Clinic in Eugene, 
        Oregon, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.
            (27) Between May 28, 2022, and May 30, 2022, South Broward 
        Pregnancy Center in Hollywood, Florida, was vandalized with 
        pro-abortion graffiti stating ``if abortions aren't safe, then 
        you aren't either'' and signed ``Jane's Revenge''.
            (28) On May 30, 2022, a statement posted online and signed 
        ``Jane's Revenge'' called for a ``Night of Rage'', saying, 
        ``[w]e need them to be afraid of us'', ``[carry] that anger out 
        into the world and [express] it physically'', and ``[to] those 
        who work to oppress us: If abortion isn't safe, you aren't 
        either. We are everywhere.''.
            (29) On June 2, 2022, the Community Pregnancy Center in 
        Anchorage, Alaska, was spray painted with pro-abortion 
        graffiti, had its front door broken, and had nails placed 
        upright in the parking lot.
            (30) On June 2, 2022, Agape Pregnancy Center in Des Moines, 
        Iowa, was spray painted with vulgar pro-abortion messages like 
        ``god loves abortion'' and its windows were broken. A statement 
        posted on social media and signed ``Jane's Revenge'' claimed 
        responsibility.
            (31) On June 3, 2022, pro-abortion graffiti referencing 
        Jane's Revenge was spray painted on the Capitol Hill Pregnancy 
        Center in Washington, DC.
            (32) On the weekend of June 4-5, 2022, pro-abortion posters 
        were plastered on the on the door of CareNet Pregnancy & Family 
        Services of Puget Sound in Federal Way, Washington. CareNet's 
        sign was also shredded.
            (33) On June 6, 2022, the windows of Mountain Area 
        Pregnancy Services in Asheville, North Carolina, were smashed 
        and the sidewalk was spray painted with ``if abortions aren't 
        safe, then neither are you''.
            (34) On June 7, 2022, CompassCare Pregnancy Services in 
        Buffalo, New York, was firebombed and graffitied. A statement 
        posted online and signed ``Jane's Revenge'' claimed 
        responsibility.
            (35) On June 8, 2022, or June 9, 2022, Options 360 in 
        Vancouver, Washington, was vandalized with red paint and 
        graffiti saying ``Jane was here.''.
            (36) On June 10, 2022, a fire at Gresham Pregnancy Resource 
        Center in Gresham, Oregon, was labeled by police as 
        ``suspicious''.
            (37) On June 11, 2022, HOPE Pregnancy Center in 
        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had its windows smashed and 
        graffiti was spray painted on the building.
            (38) On June 14, 2022, another ``Communique'' posted online 
        and signed ``Jane's Revenge'' stated, ``We have demonstrated in 
        the past month how easy and fun it is to attack . . . From here 
        forward, any anti-choice group who closes their doors, and 
        stops operating will no longer be a target. But until you do, 
        it's open season, and we know where your operations are.''.
            (39) On June 15, 2022, 126 House Republicans sent a letter 
        to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Department of 
        Justice to investigate these acts of domestic terrorism.
            (40) On June 19, 2022, the Lennon Center in Dearborn 
        Heights, Michigan, was vandalized, leaving windows smashed and 
        3 glass doors shattered. The Pregnancy Counseling Center of 
        Redford Township, Michigan, was graffitied. A statement posted 
        online claimed responsibility for both attacks and said ``Jane 
        will have her revenge''.
            (41) On June 24, 2022, Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt 
        Lake City in Salt Lake City, Utah, was vandalized.
            (42) On June 25, 2022, Life Choices in Longmont, Colorado, 
        was vandalized with spray paint of pro-abortion propaganda.
            (43) On June 25, 2022, Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in 
        Lynchburg, Virginia, was vandalized with pro-abortion spray 
        paint which said ``if abortion aint safe, you aint safe'', 
        among other pro-abortion propaganda.
            (44) On June 25, 2022, Tree of Life Pregnancy Support 
        Center in Paso Robles, California, had its windows broken and 
        was vandalized with spray painted symbols. Police shared that 
        Jane's Revenge had sent Tree of Life a letter saying that they 
        intended to cause harm and damage the center.
            (45) On June 25, 2022, a statement posted online and signed 
        ``Jane's Revenge'' claimed responsibility for attacking Avenues 
        Pregnancy Center in Glendale, California, with spray paint 
        saying ``if abortions aren't safe neither are you''. Jane's 
        Revenge also posted a ``communique''. The statement said, ``We 
        will hunt you down and make your lives a living hell. You 
        started this war but we will win it. So far its just been 
        pregnancy crisis centers, but tomorrow it might be your cars, 
        your homes, or even your lives. We support a diversity of 
        tactics and we will not step down in this fight.''.
            (46) On June 25, 2022, Jane's Revenge published on its 
        website, ``Everyone with the urge to paint, to burn, to cut, to 
        jam: now is the time. Go forth and manifest the things you wish 
        to see.''.
            (47) On June 25, 2022, Options Health in Concord, 
        California, and Informed Choices in Iowa City, Iowa, were 
        vandalized.
            (48) Between June 25 and June 26, 2022, Heart to Heart 
        Pregnancy Center in Cortez, Colorado, was vandalized.
            (49) Between June 25 and June 26, 2022, pro-abortion 
        extremists claimed responsibility for attacking some of the 
        donors of First Image in Portland, Oregon.
            (50) Between June 25 and June 26, 2022, pro-abortion 
        graffiti saying ``Your time is up'', ``We're coming for U'' and 
        ``Jane's revenge'' was spray painted on LifeChoice Pregnancy 
        Center in Winter Haven, Florida.
            (51) On June 26, 2022, a statement posted online and signed 
        ``Jane's Revenge lives!'' claimed responsibility for attacks 
        against BirthRight in Burlington, Vermont.
            (52) On June 29, 2022, a statement posted online and signed 
        ``Jane's Revenge'' claimed responsibility for their an attack 
        on Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid in Everett, Washington, on June 27, 
        2022, stating that the perpetrators had ``a smashing time with 
        their window glass and a flaming cocktail''.
            (53) On June 29, 2022, police found a smashed window and a 
        Molotov cocktail-style device inside Hope Clinic for Women in 
        Nashville, Tennessee.
            (54) Overnight between June 27-28, 2022, three rocks were 
        used to break the window of A Woman's Friend Pregnancy Resource 
        Clinic in Yuba City, California.
            (55) On June 30, 2022, it was reported that Pathways 
        Pregnancy Center Littleton, New Hampshire, was vandalized with 
        pro-abortion propaganda.
            (56) On July 3, 2022, Pregnancy Help Medical Clinic in 
        Hialeah, Florida, was vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti and 
        appeared to connect itself with Jane's Revenge.
            (57) On July 4, 2022, two windows were broken at Birthright 
        in St. Paul, Minnesota, and pro-abortion messages were also 
        graffitied on the building.
            (58) On July 4, 2022, a rock was thrown through the window 
        at Care Net of Puget Sound Pregnancy Clinic and an American 
        flag was burned on the property.
            (59) On July 5, 2022, paint was splattered on the sign, 
        exterior walls, and windows of the center at the Arches New 
        Hope Pregnancy Center in Moab, Utah.
            (60) On July 6, 2022, the front window of the Pro-Life 
        Union of Greater Philadelphia was smashed and their wall was 
        vandalized. A statement posted online and signed ``Jane's 
        Revenge'' later claimed responsibility.
            (61) On July 7, 2022, Problem Pregnancy Resource Center and 
        Clearway Clinic in Worchester, Massachusetts, was vandalized. 
        ``Jane's Revenge'' was written on the sidewalk outside both 
        clinics.
            (62) On July 12, 2022, Woman's New Life Clinic in Baton 
        Rouge, Louisiana, was vandalized.
            (63) On July 12, 2022, the executive director of the 
        Alternatives Pregnancy Center in Sacramento, California, 
        testified before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary that 
        ``we had to call police when a man approached our care center 
        with threats and a machete.''.
            (64) The director testified, ``Our Sacramento center has 
        been forced to hire 24-hour on-site security. We've had to 
        reinforce doors and bulletproof walls and windows. We've 
        removed rocks from our landscaping to inhibit vandalism. We've 
        painted the building with graffiti-proof coating. We've added 
        cameras, armed our staff with pepper spray, and stopped running 
        our mobile clinic because of threats of violence. My staff and 
        I live on constant alert. We have been forced to expend 
        valuable resources on these crucial safety measures, so we can 
        continue to provide the women of our community with free 
        medical care and services in the safest possible 
        environment.''.
            (65) The director further testified, ``What we do is worth 
        the risk. There is a place for clinics like ours in every 
        community--a place for women facing unplanned pregnancies who 
        are seeking dependable medical resources in a safe, caring 
        environment during one of the most difficult times of their 
        lives.''.
            (66) On July 26, 2022, it was reported that the front 
        window at Northfield Women's Clinic had been broken and that 
        the clinic had been vandalized with spray paint.
            (67) On August 1, 2022, the director of Abria Pregnancy 
        Resources in St. Paul, Minnesota, reported discovering that the 
        center's glass doors had been shattered that it had been 
        vandalized with red graffiti reading, ``If abortions aren't 
        safe, neither are you.''.
            (68) On June 21, 2022, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 
        along with 18 other State Attorney Generals, sent a letter to 
        Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging the investigation and 
        prosecution of recent attacks.
            (69) On June 24, 2022, Rep. Ken Buck led a letter with more 
        than 40 members of Congress to Attorney General Merrick Garland 
        to ``stop the violence and protest the rights of all 
        Americans''.
            (70) In a June 25 statement on the Dobbs ruling, Attorney 
        General Merrick Garland committed to protect abortion clinics, 
        providers, and abortion-seeking individuals, but he failed to 
        recognize the systematic injury of the pregnancy centers.
            (71) On June 27, 2022, Sen. Thom Tillis led a letter with 
        18 other Senators and Members of Congress to Attorney General 
        Merrick Garland to prevent future attacks and hold perpetrators 
        of violence responsible for their actions.
            (72) On June 28, 2022, Rep. Ted Budd led a letter with 20 
        House members to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding 
        Department of Justice action.
            (73) The Biden Administration has failed to identify the 
        threats, violence, and calls to violence against pregnancy 
        centers as the work of domestic violent extremists.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) terror attacks against pregnancy centers, including 
        arson, fire bombings, vandalism, and other property damage, 
        violate section 248 of title 18, United States Code, and are 
        punishable by fines and imprisonment; and
            (2) the Department of Justice, which is responsible for 
        investigating potential violations of section 248 of title 18, 
        United States Code, and prosecuting the individuals 
        threatening, vandalizing, and damaging pregnancy centers, has 
        abdicated its duty and failed to provide justice for victims of 
        violence.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of 
Justice and the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland 
Security shall submit a report to the committees described in 
subsection (b) on the following:
            (1) A list of each definition of the term ``domestic 
        violent extremism'' that each Inspector General, respectively, 
        finds to be used by the agency or any subagency and a list of 
        nongovernmental organizations that were consulted in the 
        creation of such definition.
            (2) A list of any terms similar to ``domestic violent 
        extremism'' and a definition for each such term that each 
        Inspector General, respectively, finds to be used by the agency 
        or any subagency and a list of nongovernmental organizations 
        that were consulted in the creation of such definition.
            (3) A list of nongovernmental organizations that were 
        consulted in identification of terms under paragraphs (1) and 
        (2).
            (4) The criteria for opening, managing, and closing 
        investigations related to domestic violent extremism.
            (5) Standard operating procedures or policies and practices 
        of the agency and each subagency with respect to the review, 
        prioritization, and mitigation of threats related to domestic 
        violent extremism in the United States.
            (6) The sharing of information relating to domestic violent 
        extremism within and between the following:
                    (A) The Federal Government.
                    (B) State, local, Tribal, territorial, and foreign 
                governments.
                    (C) The committees described in subsection (b).
                    (D) Nongovernmental organizations.
                    (E) The private sector.
            (7) Compliance by the Federal Government with privacy, 
        constitutional and civil rights, and constitutional and civil 
        liberties policies and protections.
            (8) All incidents of domestic violent extremism against 
        pregnancy centers during the period beginning May 1, 2022, and 
        ending on the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (9) Information on each group that has claimed 
        responsibility or otherwise been identified by law enforcement 
        for an act defacing, violating, or damaging pregnancy centers, 
        including a list of all events for which the group has taken 
        responsibility, a summary of ideology expressed by the group 
        (with a classified annex, if necessary).
            (10) The Federal response to the incidents described in 
        paragraph (3) (with classified annex, if necessary), including 
        the agency and subagency responsible for monitoring these 
        events, whether the group meets the definition of domestic 
        violent extremist used by the agency or subagency, and, in the 
        case of the Department of Justice, the number of prosecutions 
        initiated.
            (11) A recommendation as to criteria to be utilized in 
        establishing a potential program to make grants to pregnancy 
        centers for purposes of enabling grantees to prevent, prepare 
        for, protect against, and respond to domestic violent 
        extremism, and a report on current Federal programs and Federal 
        funding streams available to pregnancy centers for such 
        purposes, and what actions agencies are taking to communicate 
        eligibility of pregnancy centers.
    (b) Committees Described.--The committees described in this 
subsection are the following:
            (1) The Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (2) The Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (c) Pregnancy Center Defined.--In this section, the term 
``pregnancy center'' means a community-based, non-profit organization 
that provides compassionate support and resources to women facing 
unexpected pregnancy and offer life-affirming alternatives to abortion.
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