The House of Representatives approved a bill on Wednesday that would implement a nationwide ban on transgender surgeries and hormones for minors. Known as the "Protect Children’s Innocence Act," the legislation was introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and passed with a 216-211 vote.
Under the new proposal, doctors who provide gender-transition procedures to children could face steep fines or up to 10 years in prison. Greene argued from the House floor that elected officials have a "serious responsibility" to protect children from radical medical interventions.
Greene emphasized that most Americans believe children should "just need to grow up" before undergoing procedures like mastectomies or taking drugs with lifelong effects. The bill specifically prohibits the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, which critics say can harm fertility and bone development.
The vote saw a small amount of bipartisan crossover, as three Democrats joined the Republican majority in backing the measure. Conversely, four Republicans voted against the bill, highlighting some internal disagreement on the federal approach to the issue.
Terry Schilling, President of the American Principles Project, praised the outcome, claiming Republicans are committed to protecting children from a "multi-billion-dollar industry." He criticized the majority of Democrats for failing to support what he called "commonsense protections."
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where similar proposals have been introduced in the past. While the Trump administration has endorsed such bans, the Senate has yet to hold a committee hearing or vote on the matter.