Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) introduced legislation Wednesday that would require a doctor’s physical presence before a woman can receive an abortion pill and would ban the disposal of fetal remains through the public water system.
The bill, called the Clean Water for All Life Act, comes as mifepristone-induced abortions have become the most common method of ending a pregnancy in the United States.
“The murder-for-profit abortion industry has completely ignored the dangerous and unethical disposal of pre-born baby remains and toxic chemical waste produced by abortion pills,” Miller said in a statement. “I introduced the Clean Water for All Life Act to put an end to their reckless and inhumane practices.”
Under Miller’s proposal, doctors who dispense abortion pills without an in-person visit or who allow fetal remains to enter the water supply could face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $50,000.
The legislation targets a rule finalized under the Biden administration that allowed mifepristone to be mailed directly to patients without a doctor’s visit. Pro-life groups have pointed to that rule as responsible for tens of thousands of abortions in states where medication abortion remains illegal.
Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, which an unborn child requires to survive, and is typically followed by a second drug that causes contractions.
Students for Life of America, which has endorsed the bill, estimates that roughly 50 tons of chemical waste and human remains enter America’s water systems each year as a result of medication abortions. The group says the chemicals could have downstream health consequences for the broader public.
Miller’s bill would mandate that women receive a physical examination before obtaining an abortion pill and that fetal remains be disposed of through proper medical channels rather than standard plumbing.
The House bill enters a chamber where Republican leaders have largely avoided direct abortion legislation since the fall of Roe v. Wade, though the party has pursued incremental measures tied to healthcare oversight and drug regulation.
