Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas has reintroduced legislation that would repeal the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, thereby stopping the weaponization of the law against pro-life Americans.

The FACE Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Bill Clinton in 1994. The legislation was primarily meant to prevent violence against those who work in and enter abortion clinics, although it also protects churches and pregnancy centers. It “prohibits violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services.”

For a first offense, a person can be fined and/or imprisoned for not more than one year. If an individual is convicted of a subsequent offense, they can be fined and/or imprisoned not more than three years.

If the individual is convicted of an offense exclusively involving a nonviolent physical obstruction, the fine will not be more than $10,000, and the length of imprisonment will be not more than six months. For a subsequent offense, the fine will not be more than $25,000 and the length of imprisonment will not be more than 18 months. If bodily injury results, the length of imprisonment can be up to 10 years. 

Roy (TX-21) says the act has been used as a weapon against pro-life advocates who stand up for life.

“Americans just spent the last four years being targeted by a weaponized justice system. The FACE Act was one of the primary weapons of abuse — being used to politically target, arrest, and jail pro-life Americans for speaking out and standing up for life,” said Roy. “While President Trump and his team are already fast at work reversing the damage of the J6 political prosecutions and persecutions through pardons and commutations, I am hopeful those targeted under the FACE Act will be given similar relief. But importantly, we in Congress need to do our part to eliminate the laws used for the weaponization, including the FACE Act.”

According to data obtained by Roy’s office, 97 percent of FACE Act prosecutions from 1994-2024 were against pro-life Americans. 

Now that we have a Republican trifecta in the House, Senate, and White House, Congress should move quickly to repeal this law and ensure that no future president can weaponize it against pro-lifers ever again. No more excuses, let’s get it done.

Texas Right to Life President John Seago told Texas Scorecard that he is thankful for Roy’s legislation.

“Texas Right To Life thanks Congressman Chip Roy for leading on this timely issue. We’ve seen Democrat administrations prosecute Pro-Life Americans for simply practicing free speech and peaceful protests outside of abortion clinics. Unlike the attack on pregnancy centers and churches after the overturn of Roe, these Pro-Life protests are never violent, but brought a message rejected by the most pro-abortion presidential administration of our nation’s history,” said Seago.

The FACE act was used as a weapon against regular citizens who are simply being punished because they were testifying to the truth that abortion is an act of violence that causes the death of an innocent human being.

“No American should be targeted simply because their free speech is unwelcome by radical leftists in the White House,” Seago concluded.

Emily Medeiros

Emily graduated from the University of Oklahoma majoring in Journalism. She is excited to use her research and writing skills to report on important issues around Texas.

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