January 23, 2026
Mrs. Biggs of South Carolina (for herself, Mr. Timmons, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Crane, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Steube, Ms. Mace, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Tiffany, Ms. Boebert, Mr. Roy, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mr. Perry, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Ms. Letlow, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, and Mr. Harris of Maryland) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
To prohibit agencies from using the term birthing person
in official documents.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protecting Motherhood Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on use of the term birthing person
(a) Prohibitions
An agency may not use the term birthing person (or any variation thereof) in any official document, including a regulation, guidance, form, or communication.
(b) Required terminology
An agency may use the term female, mother, pregnant female, pregnant woman, or woman when referring to a female who is pregnant, giving birth, or a parent of a child.
(c) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Agency
The term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Female
The term female means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell.
(3) Mother
The term mother means a female parent of a child.
(4) Pregnant female
The term pregnant female means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large productive cell and who is carrying an unborn child.
(5) Pregnant woman
The term pregnant woman means an adult human female who is carrying an unborn child.
(6) Woman
The term woman means an adult human female.
(d) Effective date
This section shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.