# 119-hr-2251: Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act

119-hr-2251, Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4] (R-KS); status introduced (as of 2026-09-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2251
- As of: 2026-09-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-2251
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-03-21
- Sponsor: Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4] (R-KS)
- Cosponsors: 16
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-17

## Summary

**Would ban abortions performed because an unborn child has or may have Down syndrome and create criminal and civil penalties for violators.** It would also require certain providers to ask patients about test results, inform them of the prohibition, and report suspected violations. - Pregnant women: The bill would bar criminal prosecution of the woman and provides court privacy measures like sealed records and use of pseudonyms. - Health care providers: Providers would be prohibited from performing abortions when they know the procedure is sought because of a Down syndrome test or diagnosis. They must ask about test results, inform the patient of the prohibition, report suspected violations, and face fines and up to 5 years in prison for violating the rule. - Fathers, maternal grandparents, and the Attorney General: These qualified plaintiffs could bring civil suits for money damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees, with exceptions if the plaintiff consented or committed related crimes.

## Cosponsors (16)

- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15] (R-IL), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (R-IL), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4] (R-AL), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2] (R-MI), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4] (R-SC), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3] (R-IN), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] (R-TX), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7] (R-SC), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] (R-TX), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2025-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25] (R-TX), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1] (R-UT), 2026-06-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] (R-NJ), 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New lawsuits and damages for families: benefit, medium. This bill would let a woman, certain relatives, and the Attorney General sue over a prohibited abortion. Courts could award money for physical and psychological harm, loss of support, and punitive damages. Judges could also order providers to stop further violations, and winning plaintiffs could ge…
- Faster courts and privacy protections: benefit, low. Federal courts would have to move these cases ahead quickly. Courts would protect a woman’s identity unless the Constitution requires disclosure. Records could be sealed, some people could be excluded from the courtroom, and private plaintiffs would use a pseudonym. Defendants would still get the i…
- Ban on Down syndrome-based abortions: cost, medium. This bill would ban abortions when done because of a Down syndrome test, diagnosis, or suspicion. Providers would need to ask the patient if she knows of any such results and, if so, inform her about the ban before proceeding. It would also make it a crime to use force to coerce, to pay for, or to…
- Health workers must report suspected violations: cost, medium. This bill would require doctors, nurses, counselors, and similar health workers to report known or suspected violations to law enforcement. Failing to report could bring fines and up to 1 year in jail.
- Violations treated as disability discrimination: cost, medium. If enacted, a violation would count as disability discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act. The government could require fixes and could withhold federal funds from violators.
- State rules preserved; severability clause: mixed, low. This bill would not override stricter federal, state, or local laws that protect unborn children. It would not create a right to abortion. If a court strikes part of the bill, the rest would stay in effect where it can still work.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
- 119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act
- 119-hr-703: Main Street Tax Certainty Act
- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-2251 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2251)

## Related
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1502)
- [119-hr-21: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-21)
- [119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-987)
- [119-hr-703: Main Street Tax Certainty Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-703)
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2251 (as of 2026-09-17).