Today, Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) introduced legislation to repeal the unconstitutional and weaponized Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act; Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) will lead companion legislation in the Senate.
The FACE Act is a federal law designed to protect access to abortion facilities. However, President Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice has used the FACE Act to legally harass peaceful pro-life activists while simultaneously stonewalling good faith efforts by members of Congress to conduct even elementary oversight of the law.
Representative Roy said: “Free Americans should never live in fear of their government targeting them because of their beliefs. Yet, Biden’s Department of Justice has brazenly weaponized the FACE Act against normal, everyday Americans across the political spectrum, simply because they are pro-life.
Our Constitution separates power between the federal government and the states for a reason, and we ignore that safeguard at our own peril.
The FACE Act is an unconstitutional federal takeover of state police powers; it must be repealed.”
“The Constitution reserves general police power to the states, which Congress infringed upon when it passed the FACE Act,”said Senator Lee. “Joe Biden’s DOJ has weaponized this constitutionally dubious law against pro-life sidewalk counselors while failing to protect pregnancy centers and churches from arson, vandalism, and violence. It’s time to repeal the FACE Act once and for all.”
“The FACE Act prescribes harsh, mean-spirited punishments when pro-life individuals engage in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience—the staple of the human rights and civil rights movements,”said Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. “Under the FACE Act, peaceful actions like holding a sign, singing a hymn, or praying the Rosary, if conducted near an abortion mill, can result in jail sentences, massive fines and punitive damages by the party that feels it has been offended.”
Representative Smith concluded, “The Biden Administration has weaponized the FACE Act, singling out nonviolent pro-life advocates and punishing them as felons. At the same time, there has been no documented arrest in over 80 instances of violent attacks, firebombing and vandalism by pro-abortion activists in a coordinated effort to intimidate front-line volunteers and licensed medical professionals providing critical support to mothers in need and their unborn baby boys and girls.”
Last year, the FACE Act made national news when pro-life activist Mark Houck was arrested by dozens of FBI agents citing the FACE Act in relation to a pushing incident outside of an abortion facility. After deliberating for less than an hour, a jury would later find Mr. Houck innocent. Most recently, several members of the left-wing organization Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising were found guilty of violating FACE following a peaceful protest at a Washington D.C. abortion provider.
Co-sponsors of the legislation include Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Bob Good (R-VA-5), Andrew Clyde (R-GA-9), Jim Banks (R-IN-3), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-1), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-8), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Ken Buck (R-CO-4), Warren Davidson (R-OH-8), Alex Mooney (R-WV-2), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9), Matt Rosendale (R-MT-2), Josh Brecheen (R-OK-2), Barry Moore (R-AL-2), Keith Self (R-TX-3), Eric Burlison (R-MO-7), Doug Lamborn (R-CO-5), Mark Green (R-TN-7), William Timmons (R-SC-4) and Jeff Duncan (R-SC-3).
Supporting organizations include Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Thomas More Society, Family Research Council, Students for Life Action, Catholic Vote, Live Action and Citizens for Renewing America.
