Text of US HB 7235 (2026)

I 119TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7235 To prohibit agencies from using the term ‘‘birthing person’’ in official documents. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 23, 2026 Mrs. BIGGS of South Carolina (for herself, Mr. TIMMONS, Mrs. BICE, Mr. CRANE, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. STEUBE, Ms. MACE, Mr. OGLES, Mr. TIFFANY, Ms. BOEBERT, Mr. ROY, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. PERRY, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Ms. LETLOW, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, and Mr. HARRIS of Maryland) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To prohibit agencies from using the term ‘‘birthing person’’ in official documents. 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 Motherhood 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:16 Jan 30, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7235.IH H7235 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7235 IH SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF THE TERM ‘‘BIRTHING 1 PERSON’’. 2 (a) PROHIBITIONS.—An agency may not use the term 3 ‘‘birthing person’’ (or any variation thereof) in any official 4 document, including a regulation, guidance, form, or com- 5 munication. 6 (b) REQUIRED TERMINOLOGY.—An agency may use 7 the term ‘‘female’’, ‘‘mother’’, ‘‘pregnant female’’, ‘‘preg- 8 nant woman’’, or ‘‘woman’’ when referring to a female 9 who is pregnant, giving birth, or a parent of a child. 10 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 11 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 12 meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 13 United States Code. 14 (2) FEMALE.—The term ‘‘female’’ means a per- 15 son belonging, at conception, to the sex that pro- 16 duces the large reproductive cell. 17 (3) MOTHER.—The term ‘‘mother’’ means a fe- 18 male parent of a child. 19 (4) PREGNANT FEMALE.—The term ‘‘pregnant 20 female’’ means a person belonging, at conception, to 21 the sex that produces the large productive cell and 22 who is carrying an unborn child. 23 (5) PREGNANT WOMAN.—The term ‘‘pregnant 24 woman’’ means an adult human female who is car- 25 rying an unborn child. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:16 Jan 30, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7235.IH H7235 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7235 IH (6) WOMAN.—The term ‘‘woman’’ means an 1 adult human female. 2 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 3 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:16 Jan 30, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7235.IH H7235 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS