,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #dja  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #bd1 #bjba,mr4
 ,lank=d 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4 
,scott ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,portman1   
,mr4 ,ris*1 ,mr4 ,moran1 ,mr4 ,da9es1   
,mrs4 ,fis*]1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mr4       
,m>%all1 ,mr4 ,cassidy1 ,mr4 ,cram]1    
,mrs4 ,hyde-,smi?1 ,mr4 ,b>rasso1 ,mr4  
,?une1 ,mr4 ,hoev51 ,mr4 ,sasse1 ,mr4   
,inh(e1 ,mrs4 ,blackburn1 ,mr4 ,r\nds1  
,ms4 ,lummis1 ,mr4 ,hawley1 ,mr4 ,scott 
( ,florida1 ,mr4 ,lee1 & ,mr4 ,hag]ty7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,public ,heal?    
,s]vice ,act to prohibit gov]nm5tal     
discrim9ation aga9/ heal? c>e provid]s t
 d n p>ticipate 9 abortion4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,consci5ce ,protection ,act ( #bjba4    
#b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds z foll[s3 7#a7
 ,?omas ,jeff]son /at$ a conviction     
common to our ,nation's f\nd]s :5 he    

decl>$ 9 #ahji t no provision 9 our     
,con/itution ought to be de>] to man ?an
 t :i* protects ! rights ( consci5ce    
aga9/ ! ent]prises ( ! civil au?ority4  
7#b7 ,9 #aigc1 ! ,supreme ,c\rt conclud$
 t ! gov]nm5t mu/ leave ! abortion      
decision to ! m$ical judgm5t ( !        
pregnant woman's att5d+ physician1      
recogniz+ t a physician may *oose n to  
p>ticipate 9 abortion4 ,roe v4 ,wade1   
#daj ,u4,s4 #aac1 #afd 7#aigc74 ,! ,c\rt
 cit$ ) approval a policy t nei!r       
physician1 hospital1 nor hospital       
p]sonnel %all be requir$ to p]=m any act
 violative ( p]sonally-held moral       
pr9ciples1 #daj ,u4,s4 at #adc n4 #ch1 &
 cit$ ,/ate laws uphold+ ?is pr9ciple4  
,doe v4 ,bolton1 #daj ,u4,s4 #agi1      
#aig-h 7#aigc74  7#c7 ,religi\s div]sity
 adds to ! /r5g? ( our m$ical field1 &  
no doctor %\ld h to *oose betwe5 giv+ up
 _! fai? or moral convictions & ab&on+ a
 vital m$ical mission4 ,congress'       
enactm5ts to protect ?is "r ( consci5ce 
9 heal? c>e include ! ,*ur* am5dm5ts    

7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;a-#g71 !            
,coats_/,sn[e am5dm5t 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#bchn71 & ! ,weldon am5dm5t approv$ by  
,congresses & ,presid5ts ( bo? p>ties e 
ye> s9ce #bjjd 7includ+ 9 section       
#ejg7;d7 ( division ,a ( ! ,fur!r       
,consolidat$ ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj
 7,public ,law #aaf-id2 #acc ,/at4      
#becd1 #bfjg774  7#d7 ,c\rts h decl9$ to
 f9d t ^! laws provide a private "r (   
action !reby leav+ victims (            
discrim9ation unable to def5d _!        
consci5ce rights 9 c\rt1 :ile at ! same 
"t adm9i/rative en=cem5t by ! ,(fice =  
,civil ,rights ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & 
,human ,s]vices has be5 inconsi/5t1 at  
times all[+ cases to langui% = ye>s )\t 
resolution4  7#e7 ,defy+ ! ,weldon      
am5dm5t1 ,cali=nia's ,dep>tm5t ( ,manag$
 ,heal? ,c>e has m&at$ cov]age =        
elective abortions 9 all heal? plans "u 
its jurisdiction4 ,o!r ,/ates su* z ,new
 ,york1 ,ill9ois1 & ,wa%+ton h tak5 or  
consid]$ simil> action1 & "s ,/ates may 
g f>!r to require all physicians &      

hospitals to provide or facilitate      
abortions4 ,on ,june #ba1 #bjaf1 !      
,(fice = ,civil ,rights ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices "u ! ,obama    
,adm9i/ration conclud$ a ne>ly #b-ye>   
inve/igation ( ?is matt] by det]m9+ t   
,cali=nia's decision to require         
insurance plans "u ! ,cali=nia ,dep>tm5t
 = ,manag$ ,heal? ,c>e au?ority to cov] 
abortion s]vices did n violate ! ,weldon
 am5dm5t4 ,at lea/ #bh1jjj individuals &
 families subsequ5tly lo/ abortion-free 
heal? plans z a result ( ?is m&ate4     
7#f7 ,on ,janu>y #bd1 #bjbj1 ! ,(fice = 
,civil ,rights ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & 
,human ,s]vices disav[$ its prior f9d+s 
& issu$ a notice ( violation ( ! ,weldon
 am5dm5t to ,cali=nia4 ,aft] ! ,/ate's  
cont9u$ noncompliance ) ! ,weldon       
am5dm5t1 ! ,c5t]s = ,m$ic>e  ,m$icaid   
,s]vices1 on ,decemb] #af1 #bjbj1       
ann\nc$ ! disall[ance ( #bjj1jjj1jjj p] 
qu>t] 9 ,f$]al funds to ,cali=nia beg9n+
 9 ! fir/ qu>t] ( #bjba4 ,unless ! ,bid5
 ,adm9i/ration provides effective &     

cont9u+ en=cem5t aga9/ ,cali=nia & o!r  
,/ates1 individuals w cont9ue to be     
co]c$ contr>y to law into *oos+ betwe5  
violat+ _! consci5ces or =go+ heal? c>e 
cov]age = !mselves1 _! employees1 or _! 
families4  7#g7 ,on ,may #ba1 #bjai1 !  
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices    
issu$ a f9al consci5ce rule t implem5ts 
approximately #be ,f$]al consci5ce      
protection provisions & provides        
me*anisms to en=ce protections enact$ by
 ,congress to ensure t ! gov]nm5t &     
gov]nm5t-fund$ entities are n unlawfully
 discrim9at+ aga9/ individuals1 heal?   
c>e provid]s1 or heal? c>e entities4    
,despite ?is regulation provid+ =       
en=cem5t ( laws pass$ by ,congress1 a   
,f$]al di/rict c\rt vacat$ ! rule4 ,n[1 
litigation is p5d+ be=e ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
,c\rt ( ,appeals = ! ,second ,circuit   
:]e #gh memb]s ( ,congress h fil$ a     
brief 9 support ( ! rule1 z well z !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,c\rt ( ,appeals = ! ,n9? 
,circuit4 ,litigation 9 bo? ,circuits h 
be5 halt$ because ! ,bid5 ,adm9i/ration 

has indicat$ its int5t to revisit !     
rule4  7#h7 ,! va/ majority ( m$ical    
pr(essionals d n p]=m abortions1 ) up to
 #hf p]c5t ( ob/etricians_/gynecologi/s 
unwill+ to provide !m 7,ob/etrics       
,gynecology1 ,sept4 #bjaa7 & ! great    
majority ( hospitals *oos+ to d s only 9
 r>e cases or n at all4  7#i7 ,a heal?  
c>e provid]'s decision n to p>ticipate 9
 an abortion1 l ,congress' decision n to
 fund mo/ abortions1 erects no b>ri] to 
^? seek+ to p]=m or und]go abortions b  
leaves ea* p>ty free to act z he or %e  
wi%es4  7#aj7 ,su* protection poses no  
conflict ) o!r ,f$]al laws1 su* z ! law 
requir+ /abiliz+ treatm5t = a pregnant  
woman & h] unborn *ild :5 ei!r ne$s     
em]g5cy c>e 7,em]g5cy ,m$ical ,treatm5t 
& ,active ,labor ,act74 ,z previ\s      
,adm9i/rations h said1 ^! areas ( law h 
op]at$ side by side = _m ye>s & bo? %\ld
 be fully en=c$ 7#gf ,f$4 ,reg4 #iifh-gg
 7#bjaa7 at #iigc74  7#aa7 ,reaffirm+   
long/&+ ,f$]al policy on consci5ce      
rights & provid+ a "r ( action 9 cases  

:]e x is violat$ all[s long/&+ & widely 
support$ ,f$]al laws to "w z int5d$4    
#c4 ,prohibit+ discrim9ation aga9/ heal?
 c>e provid]s t d n p>ticipate 9        
abortion ,title ,,ii ( ! ,public ,heal? 
,s]vice ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjb et     
seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section   
#bde ! foll[+3  #bde;,a4 ,prohibit+     
discrim9ation aga9/ heal? c>e provid]s t
 d n p>ticipate 9 abortion  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,not)/&+ any o!r law1 ! ,f$]al         
,gov]nm5t1 & any p]son or entity t      
receives ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance1     
includ+ any ,/ate or local gov]nm5t1 may
 n p5alize1 retaliate aga9/1 or o!rwise 
discrim9ate aga9/ a heal? c>e provid] on
 ! basis t ! provid] does n or decl9es  
to-- 7#a7 p]=m1 ref] =1 pay =1 or       
o!rwise p>ticipate 9 abortion2  7#b7    
provide or sponsor abortion cov]age2 or 
7#c7 facilitate or make arrangem5ts =   
any ( ! activities specifi$ 9 ?is       
subsection4  7b7 ,rule ( con/ruction    
,no?+ 9 ?is section %all be con/ru$--   
7#a7 to prev5t any heal? c>e provid] f  

volunt>ily elect+ to p>ticipate 9       
abortions or abortion ref]rals :]e n    
prohibit$ by any o!r law2  7#b7 to      
prev5t any heal? c>e provid] f          
volunt>ily elect+ to provide or sponsor 
abortion cov]age or heal? b5efits       
cov]age t includes abortion :]e n       
prohibit$ by any o!r law2  7#c7 to      
prev5t an accr$it+ ag5cy1 ! ,f$]al      
,gov]nm5t1 or a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t 
f e/abli%+ /&>ds ( m$ical compet5cy     
applicable only to ^? :o h kn[+ly1      
volunt>ily1 & specifically elect$ to    
p]=m abortions1 or f en=c+ contractual  
obligations applicable only to ^? :o1 z 
"p ( su* contract1 kn[+ly1 volunt>ily1 &
 specifically elect to provide          
abortions2  7#d7 to affect1 or be       
affect$ by1 section #ahfg ( ! ,social   
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;dd1 
commonly ref]r$ to z ! ,em]g5cy ,m$ical 
,treatm5t & ,active ,labor ,act72 or    
7#e7 to sup]s$e any law enact$ by any   
,/ate = ! purpose ( regulat+ insurance1 
except z specifi$ 9 subsection 7a74  7c7

 ,adm9i/ration ,! ,secret>y-- 7#a7 may  
issue regulations "u-- 7,a7 ?is section2
  7,b7 ! ,religi\s ,fre$om ,re/oration  
,act ( #aiic 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;bb et 
seq471 ) respect to any program or      
activity fund$1 adm9i/]$1 or conduct$ by
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices2
  7,c7 any ( subsections 7b7 ?r\gh 7e7 (
 section #dja ( ! ,heal? ,programs      
,ext5sions ,act ( #aigc 7#db ,u4,s4,c4  
#cjj;a-#g7 reg>d+ an objection bas$ on a
 religi\s belief or moral conviction2 & 
7,d7 any o!r law protect+ ! ex]cise (   
consci5ce or religi\s fre$om "u programs
 or activities fund$1 adm9i/]$1 or      
conduct$ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? &      
,human ,s]vices1 includ+ any laws li/$  
"u ! f9al rule issu$ by ! ,secret>y (   
,heal? & ,human ,s]vices titl$ ,protect+
 ,/atutory ,consci5ce ,rights 9 ,heal?  
,c>e2 ,delegations ( ,au?ority 7#hd ,f$4
 ,reg4 #bcagj2 ,may #ba1 #bjai72  7#b7  
%all designate ! ,director ( ! ,(fice = 
,civil ,rights ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & 
,human ,s]vices-- 7,a7 to receive       

compla9ts alleg+ a violation ( any      
provision ( ?is section or any provision
 ( law ref]r$ to or li/$ "u p>agraph    
7#a72 &  7,b7 to promptly inve/igate su*
 compla9ts1 issue f9d+s1 & require      
corrective action 9 cases ( su* a       
violation2 &  7#c7 %all1 z p]mitt$ "u   
law 7includ+ ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates71 induce compliance ( a p]son or 
entity1 includ+ a ,/ate or local        
gov]nm5t1 refus+ to comply ) a provision
 ( ?is section1 or any provision ( law  
ref]r$ to or li/$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 by  
t]m9at+1 9 :ole or 9 "p1 any ,f$]al     
f9ancial assi/ance provid$ by !         
,secret>y to su* p]son or entity4  7d7  
,def9itions ,= purposes ( ?is section3  
7#a7 ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance ,! t]m   
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance means ,f$]al  
paym5ts to cov] ! co/ ( heal? c>e       
s]vices or b5efits1 or o!r ,f$]al       
paym5ts1 grants1 or loans to promote or 
o!rwise facilitate heal?-relat$         
activities4  7#b7 ,heal? c>e provid] ,! 
t]m heal? c>e provid] includes-- 7,a7 an

 individual physician1 heal? c>e        
assi/ant1 nurse1 ph>maci/1 heal?        
rese>*]1 or o!r heal? c>e p]sonnel2     
7,b7 a hospital1 laboratory1 ph>macy1   
heal? sy/em1 or o!r heal? c>e or m$ical 
rese>* facility or organization 7includ+
 a p>ty to a propos$ m]g] or o!r        
collaborative arrangem5t relat+ to heal?
 s]vices1 & an entity result+ !refrom72 
7,c7 a provid]-sponsor$ organization1 an
 acc\ntable c>e organization1 or a heal?
 ma9t5ance organization2  7,d7 a social 
s]vices provid] t provides or au?orizes 
ref]rals = heal? c>e s]vices2  7,e7 a   
program ( tra9+ or education 9 ! heal?  
pr(essions or m$ical rese>*1 a          
p>ticipant 9 su* a program1 or any      
individual apply+ or o!rwise aspir+ to  
p>ticipate 9 su* a program2  7,f7 an    
issu] ( heal? insurance cov]age or ( a  
heal? plan2 or  7,g7 a heal? c>e %>+    
m9i/ry2  7,h7 a heal? insurance plan1   
includ+ gr\p1 individual1 or /ud5t heal?
 plans1 or a sponsor or adm9i/rator     
!re(2 or  7,i7 any o!r heal? c>e        

organization1 program1 facility1 or     
plan4  7#c7 ,/ate or local gov]nm5t ,!  
t]m ,/ate or local gov]nm5t includes e  
ag5cy & o!r gov]nm5tal unit &           
subdivision ( a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t1
 if su* ,/ate or local gov]nm5t1 or any 
ag5cy or gov]nm5tal unit or subdivision 
!re(1 receives ,f$]al f9ancial          
assi/ance4  #bde;,b4 ,civil action =    
c]ta9 violations  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,a       
qualifi$ p>ty may1 9 a civil action1    
obta9 appropriate relief ) reg>d to a   
designat$ violation4  7b7 ,def9itions ,=
 purposes ( ?is section3 7#a7 ,qualifi$ 
p>ty ,! t]m qualifi$ p>ty means-- 7,a7 !
 ,attorney ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or 
7,b7 any p]son or entity adv]sely       
affect$ by ! designat$ violation )\t    
reg>d to :e!r su* p]son or entity is a  
heal? c>e provid]4  7#b7 ,designat$     
violation ,! t]m designat$ violation    
means an actual or ?reat5$ violation (  
section #bde;,a or ( any o!r provision (
 law ref]r$ to or li/$ "u section       
#bde;,a7c77#a74  7c7 ,adm9i/rative      

rem$ies n requir$ ,an action "u ?is     
section may be comm5c$1 & relief may be 
grant$1 )\t reg>d to :e!r ! p>ty comm5c+
 ! action has s\ght or exhau/$ any      
available adm9i/rative rem$ies4  7d7    
,def5dants 9 actions "u ?is section may 
include gov]nm5tal entities z well z    
o!rs  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,an action "u ?is   
section may be ma9ta9$ aga9/ any p]son  
or entity receiv+ ,f$]al f9ancial       
assi/ance1 includ+ a ,/ate gov]nm5tal   
entity4 ,relief 9 an action "u ?is      
section may include money damages ev5 if
 ! def5dant is a gov]nm5tal entity4     
7#b7 ,def9ition ,= ! purposes ( ?is     
subsection1 ! t]m ,/ate gov]nm5tal      
entity means a ,/ate1 a local gov]nm5t  
)9 a ,/ate1 & any ag5cy or o!r          
gov]nm5tal unit or subdivision ( a      
,/ate1 or ( su* a local gov]nm5t4  7e7  
,nature ( relief ,9 an action "u ?is    
section1 ! c\rt %all grant-- 7#a7 all   
appropriate relief1 includ+ injunctive  
relief1 decl>atory relief1 & comp5satory
 damages to prev5t ! occurr5ce1         

cont9uance1 or repetition ( ! designat$ 
violation & to comp5sate = losses       
result+ f ! designat$ violation2 &  7#b7
 to a prevail+ pla9tiff1 reasonable     
attorneys' fees & litigation co/s4  4