On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a deeply controversial bill that would criminalize gender‑affirming medical care for minors, igniting one of the most heated debates in recent national politics. The Protect Children’s Innocence Act, passed narrowly 216–211 along party lines, targets surgeries, hormone therapies, and other treatments, imposing severe federal penalties on healthcare providers who perform them.
The bill’s passage has polarized the nation. Supporters hail it as a necessary step to “protect children” from irreversible medical decisions, while opponents warn it represents unprecedented federal intrusion into private healthcare and parental rights. The measure now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where bipartisan support would be needed for it to advance.
What the Bill Would Do
Under the legislation, any individual — from doctors and nurses to anyone knowingly facilitating gender‑affirming care for minors — could face fines or up to 10 years in prison. The bill specifically targets:
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