07/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/23/2026 10:01
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) introduced the Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026, legislation prohibiting federal courts from enforcing provisions in surrogacy contracts that require a surrogate mother to obtain an abortion. The bill would also prevent intended parents from withholding agreed-upon compensation when a surrogate mother refuses a request to abort the child she is carrying.
"No woman should ever be forced to murder a child because of a provision buried in a contract," said Congressman Ogles. "The Preventing Forced Abortions Act ensures that federal courts cannot enforce these coercive clauses or allow intended parents to withhold promised compensation when a surrogate mother chooses life," Congressman Ogles said.
Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said: "Women should never be forced or coerced into having an abortion. Yet, recent headlines reveal that this is still a tragic reality women face today. We applaud Rep. Ogles for reintroducing the Preventing Forced Abortions Act to protect women and babies in surrogacy arrangements. Studies have shown that pressure to undergo an abortion is associated with poorer mental health and emotional outcomes for women. Abortion coercion is wrong and this ought to be an area of bipartisan agreement.
Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life, said: "National Right to Life strongly supports Congressman Ogles' Preventing Forced Abortions Act. No contract should be used as a weapon to coerce a woman into an abortion or treat an unborn child as disposable."
Kelsey Reinhardt, President and CEO of CatholicVote, said:
"I want to thank Rep. Ogles for standing up for both women and the unborn. Every abortion treats the woman and child as a means to an end, violating her inherent dignity and exploits the woman for an agenda of death. Too often the abortion compounds injustice: many coerced cases involve domestic abuse, trafficking, economic threats, or authoritarian policies. The Catholic Church's social teaching prioritizes protecting the vulnerable from such manipulation. CatholicVote supports the Preventing Forced Abortions Act and encourages all Members of Congress to do the same."
Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, said:
"Abortion always ends the life of an innocent unborn child, and forced abortions in the context of surrogacy arrangements are no different. Surrogacy all too often places unborn children at risk of abortion when the baby is diagnosed with certain complications. Congress must pass Rep. Andy Ogles' Preventing Forced Abortions Act of 2026 to ensure that no child is subject to forced abortion when they aren't exactly what someone wanted. Children are not commodities to be controlled or products to be perfected; they are gifts from God intended to be treasured by one man and one woman in the covenant of marriage."
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Lauren Boebert [CO-04], Rep. Sheri Biggs [SC-03], Rep. Josh Brecheen [OK-02], Rep. Keith Self [TX-03], and Rep. Mary Miller [IL-15]
Supporting Groups (5): Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, CatholicVote, National Right to Life Committee, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Students For Life Action.
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