3-Child Limit Bill Proposed In PA; Would Mandate Vasectomies

PENNSYLVANIA — A new bill that will soon be introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature would limit the number of children that men could father to three. It would mandate vasectomies for men at age 40 or following their third child, whichever comes first.

The bill's author, State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) called it "parody legislation" of the recently passed Texas law, which is the most restrictive anti-abortion legislation in the country. Rabb hopes his bill, which would place more of the burden of conception's responsibility on men, will bring to light what he calls "gendered double standards" for reproductive rights.

“To each person who views this bill I’ve introduced as absurd, I’d urge you to apply equal scrutiny to laws in places like Texas and right here in Pennsylvania, which enact paternalistic restrictions on the personal liberty of cis women, trans men and nonbinary individuals who have an unwanted pregnancy," Rabb said.

In addition, the legislation would include a $10,000 reward for reporting any violators who refuse to get vasectomies.

The proposal comes as anti-abortion legislation gains traction in other parts of the country, including Texas and Mississippi. The discourse surrounding those bills have some thinking that they could be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially opening the door for a reconsideration of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 that protected a woman's right to choose.

"As long as legislators continue to restrict the #ReproductiveRights of cis women, trans men & non-binary folx, there should be laws to address the responsibility of men who impregnate them!" Rabb wrote in part of a Twitter thread discussing the coming bill.

Rabb's announcement has, expectedly, faced enormous backlash since his House Co-Sponsorship memorandum circulated on Oct. 2. He said that he faced "the most hateful and threatening emails and voicemails" of his career within hours of releasing the memorandum. Pennsylvania Republicans latched on to it, as well.

"This bill will never see the light of day as long as Republicans control the House," State Rep. David Rowe (R) said. "But I wanted you all to be aware how quickly policies that belong in Communist China would become the norm here if Democrats seized total control of state government."

Rabb said the move is inspired by similar legislation proposed by Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. He said he hopes to hold a joint online town hall with her in the future to promote reproductive rights.

Read Rabb's full memorandum here.