House Judiciary Committee Advances Bill to Repeal FACE Act Targeting Pro-Life Activists

The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance legislation introduced by Rep. Chip Roy aimed at repealing the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which conservatives argue has been weaponized by the Biden administration to disproportionately target peaceful pro-life activists. Roy and supporters cited data indicating that 92% of prosecutions under the FACE Act during the Biden administration focused on anti-abortion demonstrators, while only 8% involved attacks on pregnancy resource centers, and criticized the DOJ for pursuing harsh sentences against nonviolent protesters. Democrats opposed the repeal, asserting that the FACE Act is necessary to address real instances of violence against abortion clinics and fertility centers, and accused Republicans of siding with those they labeled as "terrorists." The Thomas More Society, which has provided legal defense for pro-life advocates prosecuted under the law, praised the committee's vote as a step toward restoring justice and constitutional rights for peaceful protesters. The bill's passage in the Republican-controlled House appears likely, but it faces significant hurdles in the Senate where a Democratic filibuster could block it. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over abortion rights enforcement and the use of federal law to regulate protests outside reproductive health facilities.