Cicilline is pro-choice, and advocates that abortions should always be legally available, and that government funding should be provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services. He opposed the Protect Life Act of October 2011, which would ban the use of federal funding to cover any costs under health care plans that paid for abortions, and would allow federally-funded hospitals to refuse to perform abortions (even in cases in which the mother's life is in danger). Stating that the bill would put women's lives at risk and would limit “how women can spend their own private dollars to purchase health insurance,” Cicilline declared it "outrageous."