Congresswomen Brittany Pettersen, Joyce Beatty, and Lauren Underwood Introduce Legislation to Protect Women from Criminal Prosecution Following Pregnancy Loss

WASHINGTON – Congresswomen Brittany Pettersen (CO-D), Joyce Beatty (OH-D), and Lauren Underwood (IL-D) introduced the Pregnancy Loss Protection Act, legislation to protect women from criminal prosecution following a miscarriage or stillbirth and ensure that no woman is treated as a criminal for experiencing pregnancy loss. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, women across the country have faced growing threats of criminal investigation, arrest, and prosecution related to their pregnancy outcomes. These punitive practices disproportionately impact Black women and women of color, creating fear and uncertainty for those seeking medical care. “Facing a pregnancy loss is one of the most heartbreaking experiences anyone can endure. The idea that some states or local governments can target, investigate, or criminally prosecute women suffering through a miscarriage or stillbirth is absolutely unconscionable. I am proud to co-lead the Pregnancy Loss Protection Act to ensure every woman going through one of the most painful times is protected and not treated like a criminal,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “Mourning mothers are not criminals,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. “In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, women are increasingly facing the threat of criminal prosecution for pregnancy loss. We saw this injustice unfold in my home state of Ohio when Brittany Watts was treated like a criminal instead of a woman deserving compassion and care. A miscarriage is not a crime, and grief should never be met with handcuffs. The Pregnancy Loss Protection Act makes one thing clear: women deserve dignity, protection, and care—not jail time.” “Losing a pregnancy is already a painful and heartbreaking experience, and no woman should have to face the additional trauma of a criminal investigation while she recovers and grieves. Shamefully, after Dobbs, that is the reality for millions of families across our country,” said Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. “The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income nation. To save mom’s lives, we must make sure that women can seek quality health care without fear. Our bill will protect women, improve health outcomes, and make sure they can get the care that they need.” Rep. Pettersen has also consistently supported access to reproductive health care. As states across the country have adopted restrictive measures on abortion, reproductive care, and gender affirming care, Rep. Pettersen joined an amicus brief before the Supreme Court to defend access to mifepristone, an abortion pill that is FDA approved. Rep. Pettersen is also an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would establish a federal right to abortion care nationwide. During her tenure at the state level, Rep. Pettersen helped pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act, a law that codified the right to an abortion in the state of Colorado. Full text of the legislation is available HERE . ### To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here . To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here , Facebook here , or Instagram here . Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here .