Will House Resolution 7 force women to get permission from their husbands, fathers or priests to use birth control or have an abortion? No, that's not true: The legislation wouldn't require women to get anyone's consent for reproductive health care. Also, House resolutions aren't real laws; they only show what the House thinks collectively about a specific issue, person or event.
The claim appeared in a post (archived here) on Threads on January 7, 2025, that said:
MAGA House Resolution 7 will require women to get permission from their husband, father or priest to obtain birth control, have their tubes tied, access IVF, get treated for a miscarriage or end a pregnancy for any reason. Church based medical practices and puts the woman's life at the bottom.
This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:
(Source: Threads screenshot taken on Wed Jan 8 17:49:46 2024 UTC)
The post provided no evidence to support its assertion that House Resolution 7 (H Res 7) would make women get someone else's consent for reproductive health care. The truth is, it can't. Even if it passed the House, as a resolution (archived here) it wouldn't have the power of law. It would only express the majority opinion of the House members.
House Resolution 7
H Res 7 (archived here), titled "Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages," was introduced in the House on January 3, 2025, by Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona. This is the sixth time since 2018 he has offered the legislation (archived here) to House members for their approval. As of January 8, 2025, it had never passed the House.
H Res 7 doesn't mention husbands, fathers or priests, and it doesn't say women would need their permission to use birth control, get their tubes tied, access in vitro fertilization, get treatment for a miscarriage or end a pregnancy, as a social media post claims. The closest it comes is a line saying that "health care for women should also address the needs of men, families, and communities."
The Pro Women's Healthcare Centers (archived here) referred to in the legislation is anti-abortion. A statement included in the organization's online brochure by Dr. Donna Harrison, executive director of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says:
The Hippocratic, woman centered approach to medical management is needed to counter the tremendous push for abortion.
The organization also says its mission is:
... to partner with women to provide comprehensive, convenient, compassionate, high-quality medical services and access to social services that empower them to care for their health.
Read more
Other Lead Stories fact checks concerning health can be found here.
Additional fact checks concerning politics are here.
