New Congressional Bill Would Ban Dismembering Babies in Abortions

Today, Rep. Kat Cammack (FL-03), alongside Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Bob Onder (MO-03), introduced The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026, with companion legislation led by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). This bill bans one of the most barbaric late-term abortion procedures in modern medicine while ensuring women are not the target of prosecution.

This legislation establishes a federal prohibition on dismemberment abortions, including dilation and evacuation procedures in which surgical instruments are used to extract an unborn child piece by piece.

For decades, this gruesome practice has been routinely performed on unborn children well into their development without a clear federal standard of accountability or consequences for providers who perform it.

Under this bill, physicians who knowingly perform these procedures will face fines and/or imprisonment of up to two years.

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The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 stands as the only federal law prohibiting a specific abortion procedure which leaves every other method, including dismemberment abortion, entirely unregulated at the federal level.

The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act establishes a new, separate restriction focused on this particularly sadistic method, while keeping its scope limited and clearly defined.

“Under our current system, abortion procedures exist in a legal gray area with no federal standards and no accountability. Providers can perform inhumane extraction methods and face zero consequences. That ends now,” said Rep. Cammack. “This bill sets a clear federal standard that holds providers accountable, protects the dignity of all life, and ensures women are protected, not prosecuted.”

“Every life is a precious gift from God and should be treated with dignity,” said Senator Rounds. “Dismemberment abortions are among the most brutal methods of abortion, accounting for around 80% of second trimester abortions. Our legislation would make performing a dismemberment abortion a criminal offense, with the doctor or health care provider who performs it liable to fines and up to two years in prison.”

“Every pre-born child is precious and it’s horrifying that any physician, someone trained to save lives, would agree to dismember a child in the womb,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “The fact that this horrifying procedure is still being done to children who can feel pain in the womb is why we need to enact the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act.”

“March for Life Action thanks Rep. Cammack for this important piece of legislation that would stop the barbaric practice of tearing pre-born babies apart limb from limb — which is often performed at a point in pregnancy when babies have the capacity to feel pain,” said Jennie Bradley Lichter, President of March for Life Action. “America is better than that and this bill should be passed with bipartisan support.”

“Dismemberment abortions, the most common second trimester abortion method, ends the life of an unborn baby by tearing off her arms and legs, removing her torso, then crushing her tiny head. This barbaric practice takes the lives of 60,000 to 70,000 developed babies every year,” said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. “We applaud Rep. Cammack, Rep. Onder, and their colleagues in the House for introducing this bill to put an end to these brutal abortions. We look forward to continuing to work with members of Congress to pass legislation that protects unborn children and their mothers from the horror of abortion.”

“I am grateful to cosponsor this critical legislation, which exposes the reality of abortion practices and protects unborn babies from the excruciating pain of being dismembered alive,” said Rep. Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. “Abortion extremists go to extraordinary lengths to ignore, trivialize, and cover up the battered baby victim. The truth is that unborn babies are society’s youngest patients: they deserve respect, love, and access to healing, life-affirming medical care and interventions.”

“As a physician, I believe the practice of medicine requires a commitment to protect and preserve human life, never to take it. The intentional dismemberment of an unborn child is a barbaric practice that violates both medical ethics and human dignity,” said Rep. Harris, Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. “This legislation defends the sanctity of unborn life, holds providers who perform this procedure accountable, and recognizes rare medical emergencies in which a physician must intervene to save the life of the mother.”

“As a proud Christian and conservative, I believe every life is a precious gift from God and must be protected,” said Rep. Williams. “I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act. We must put an end to the horrific practice of dismemberment abortions and continue the fight for the most vulnerable among us, the unborn.”

“Every unborn child deserves dignity and protection under the law,” said Rep. Steube. “That’s why I’m co-sponsoring the Dismemberment Abortion Act to end one of the most barbaric abortion procedures and protect the life of the mother. We have a duty to defend the most vulnerable.”

“Every life is valuable, and we have a responsibility to ensure our laws reflect that basic truth,” said Rep. Tenney. “The Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act places commonsense limits on an inhumane procedure, promoted by the radical Left, while protecting the health and safety of mothers. This legislation ensures accountability for those who perform these horrific procedures and provides important safeguards, including exceptions when a mother’s life is at risk. It is a step toward a more compassionate and responsible approach that respects both women and unborn children.”

“I am unequivocally pro-life and will continue to be a vocal and staunch supporter of the rights of the unborn. All life is precious, particularly that which is defenseless and cannot speak for itself,” said Rep. Kelly. “We must promote a culture of life that values and respects the dignity of all human lives, especially the lives of people, such as the unborn. I will continue to do everything I can to defend the right to life, which is why I proudly co-sponsored the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act.”

“Dismemberment abortion is a barbaric form of murder. Medical providers that cause the slow, painful death of an unborn child ought to be held criminally responsible,” said Rep. Stutzman. “In addition, this bill allows women to seek damages for physical and psychological harm that often accompanies these horrific procedures. I am proud to cosponsor this bill to stop this cruel practice and allow women to receive compensation for the harms done to them.”

“The fundamental right to life is the cornerstone of our nation, and it is our duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Dismemberment abortions are an inhumane exercise that have no place in a civilized society,” said Rep. Estes. “I am proud to join Rep. Cammack as an original cosponsor of the Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act to end these horrific and abhorrent acts. It is time to uphold the dignity of every unborn child.”

Original Cosponsors:
Rep. Bob Onder (MO-03)
Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01)
Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN-07)
Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12)
Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-16)
Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC-03)
Rep. Ron Estes (KS-04)
Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01)
Rep. Greg Steube (FL-17)
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (IN-03)
Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24)
Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)

Senate Companions:
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)

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