[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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