HR 5925
HHS Reproductive and Sexual Health Ombuds Act of 2025
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes an Ombuds within the Department of Health and Human Services to focus on reproductive and sexual health. The Ombuds will educate the public about available health services, analyze data on access to care, and connect individuals with providers and resources like abortion funds. They will also address misinformation and coordinate with other agencies to ensure comprehensive coverage and consumer protection in this area.
Key provisions
- Creates an Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health within HHS.
- The Ombuds will analyze data on access to specified health care services.
- The Ombuds will connect individuals with health care providers, abortion funds, and other relevant clinics.
- The Ombuds will address reproductive and sexual health misinformation.
- The Ombuds will coordinate with the FTC on consumer protection and data privacy.
- The Ombuds will promote awareness of qualified health plans and benefits for specified health care services.
- The Ombuds can request investigations from the Department's Inspector General.
- The Ombuds will submit an annual report to Congress evaluating their efforts.
Who is affected
- Individuals seeking reproductive and sexual health services
- Health care providers
- Health insurance companies and plans
- The Department of Health and Human Services
- The public
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5925
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To establish within the Department of Health and Human Services an Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health.
This Act may be cited as the HHS Reproductive and Sexual Health Ombuds Act of 2025
.
There shall be within the Department of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Department
) an Ombuds for Reproductive and Sexual Health (in this section referred to as the Ombuds
).
The Ombuds shall report directly to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary
).
The Secretary shall take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the Ombuds’s office from other officers or employees of the Department engaged in reproductive and sexual health activities.
The Secretary shall take appropriate action to ensure that the Ombuds’s office is sufficiently staffed and resourced to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently.
The functions of the Ombuds shall be as follows:
To analyze data collected by the Department of Health and Human Services about consumer access to specified health care services.
provide an analysis of any gaps in such coverage.
To disseminate information about how individuals can connect with—
health care providers receiving Federal funds under title X of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300 et seq.);
abortion funds; and
other clinics that provide specified health care services.
To provide the public with evidence-based and medically accurate information related to medication abortions conducted outside formal medical settings.
In coordination with entities receiving grants under section 1311(i) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18031(i)) and other entities assisting individuals eligible to enroll in qualified health plans (as defined in section 1301(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18021(a))) through an Exchange established pursuant to title I of such Act, to promote awareness of the availability of such plans and the benefits under such plans for specified health care services.
The Ombuds may request the Inspector General of the Department to conduct inspections, investigations, and audits related to any of the functions under subsection (d).
Not later than June 30, 2026, and each June 30 thereafter, the Ombuds shall submit to the Congress a report that—
evaluates the efforts of the Ombuds (or the Secretary, as applicable) with respect to each of the functions specified in subsection (d); and
contains such other information as the Secretary determines is appropriate.
In this section:
The term health plans and programs refers to any of the following:
Each Federal health care program (as defined in section 1128B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b) but including the program established under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code).
Health insurance coverage offered in the large group market (as such terms are defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91)).
Health insurance coverage offered in the small group market (as so defined).
Health insurance coverage offered in the individual market (as so defined).
Self-insured group health plans.