by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday night that would criminalize gender transition treatments for minors, marking a significant victory for conservatives who argue the federal government must step in to protect children from irreversible medical procedures.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., passed by a narrow 216–211 vote, with limited bipartisan support. Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, along with Don Davis of North Carolina, joined most Republicans in voting for the measure. Meanwhile, Reps. Mike Lawler of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Gabe Evans of Colorado, and Mike Kennedy of Utah broke with their party to oppose it.

Greene framed the legislation as a necessary safeguard against what she described as radical experimentation on children. “Children are NOT experiments. No more drugs. No more surgeries. No more permanent harm,” she wrote on X ahead of the vote, adding that Congress has a moral responsibility to protect minors from life-altering decisions pushed by adults and ideologues.

The legislation, formally titled the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, would classify the administration of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries for minors as a federal felony. Under the bill, medical providers and others who knowingly facilitate such procedures could face up to 10 years in prison. The measure builds on existing federal law prohibiting female genital mutilation, expanding its scope to include chemical castration and surgical interventions performed for gender transition purposes. Minors who receive the procedures would not face criminal penalties.

Greene secured the floor vote after striking a deal with House leadership, agreeing to support a procedural rule advancing the National Defense Authorization Act. The maneuver drew criticism from some Republicans but ultimately allowed the legislation to reach the House floor for the first time.

The vote was preceded by a public clash between Greene and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who proposed an amendment intended to limit the bill’s reach under the Commerce Clause. Greene argued the amendment would weaken the bill by restricting federal jurisdiction, insisting that the legislation must apply broadly to protect all children, not just those involved in federally funded care. Roy later withdrew the amendment, saying he did not want to create confusion about Republican unity on the issue, while maintaining that constitutional limits still matter.

Civil liberties groups reacted sharply to the bill’s passage. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the measure, arguing it would interfere with parental rights and medical decision-making. Conservatives countered that the bill reflects growing public concern over the long-term physical and psychological consequences of experimental treatments being promoted to children.

The House action comes as more than half of U.S. states have already enacted laws restricting or banning gender transition procedures for minors. The issue has become a central pillar of the broader national debate over parental rights, medical ethics, and the role of government in protecting children.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle. Republicans would need Democratic support to overcome procedural hurdles and send the legislation to President Donald Trump’s desk. Still, supporters argue the House vote represents a turning point, signaling that federal lawmakers are increasingly willing to challenge the gender ideology that has rapidly reshaped medicine, education, and public policy.

As the debate continues, the bill’s supporters say the message is clear: protecting children must come before politics, profits, or ideology.

Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

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