Protecting Motherhood Act
HB7235, titled the Protecting Motherhood Act, would bar federal agencies from using the term “birthing person,” or any variation of it, in official documents, regulations, guidance, forms, or communications. The bill instead directs agencies to use terms such as “female,” “mother,” “pregnant female,” “pregnant woman,” or “woman” when referring to a female who is pregnant, giving birth, or parenting a child.
The measure also supplies statutory definitions for those terms, including definitions of “female,” “mother,” “pregnant female,” “pregnant woman,” and “woman.” It would take effect 30 days after enactment and would apply to agencies as defined in title 5 of the U.S. Code. In practical terms, the bill would affect federal agency language and drafting practices rather than creating a new benefit program or regulatory scheme.
If enacted, the bill would require federal agencies to revise official terminology in forms, guidance, regulations, and other communications to avoid gender-neutral language such as “birthing person.” It would impose a federal statutory language standard for agency documents and could affect how agencies describe pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood in administrative materials. The bill would not directly amend state law, but it would influence federal administrative practice and potentially affect federally issued documents used by the public, healthcare providers, and program administrators.
The available context suggests the bill is supported by its sponsors as a statement in favor of sex-specific terminology and traditional references to motherhood and womanhood. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials, there is no documented opposition or bipartisan negotiation in the record here. The bill’s introduction by multiple Republican members and its framing as the “Protecting Motherhood Act” indicate a politically and socially conservative approach to agency language.
The main point of contention is the bill’s prohibition on the term “birthing person,” which is commonly used in some medical, public health, and equity contexts to include transgender men and nonbinary people who can become pregnant. Supporters appear to favor sex-specific terms such as “woman” and “mother,” while critics would likely argue that the bill restricts inclusive language and may reduce precision in contexts where gender identity and reproductive capacity are being discussed. Another likely area of dispute is the bill’s definitional language, which ties terms like “female” and “woman” to biological sex and could be viewed as excluding some people who give birth.