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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1179 (112th)

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

17 March 2011

Last action

28 March 2011 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sponsors

Rep. Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE-1], Rep. Boren, Dan [D-OK-2], Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5], Rep. Scalise, Steve [R-LA-1], Rep. Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH-12], Rep. Conaway, K. Michael [R-TX-11], Rep. Lamborn, Doug [R-CO-5], Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5], Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3], Rep. Miller, Jeff [R-FL-1], Rep. Pearce, Stevan [R-NM-2], Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17], Rep. Kingston, Jack [R-GA-1], Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4], Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4], Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Rep. Buerkle, Ann Marie [R-NY-25], Rep. Huelskamp, Tim [R-KS-1], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9], Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11], Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14], Rep. Canseco, Francisco "Quico" [R-TX-23], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Rep. Terry, Lee [R-NE-2], Rep. McClintock, Tom [R-CA-5], Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5], Rep. Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO-4], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Lewis, Jerry [R-CA-41], Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12], Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3], Rep. Bishop, Rob [R-UT-1], Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1], Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Michael G. [R-PA-8], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19], Rep. Schilling, Robert T. [R-IL-17], Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4], Rep. Burton, Dan [R-IN-5], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Hultgren, Randy [R-IL-14], Rep. Murphy, Tim [R-PA-18]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence

Source updated

5 December 2025

Healthcare · Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty.  Declares that such plans are still considered to: (1) be providing the essential health benefits package or preventive health services, (2) be a qualified health plan, and (3) have fulfilled other requirements under PPACA. Declares that nothing in PPACA shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions. Prohibits a health plan from being considered to have failed to provide timely or other access to items or services or to fulfill any other requirement under PPACA because it has respected the rights of conscience of such a provider. Prohibits an American Health Benefit Exchange (a state health insurance exchange) or other official or entity acting in a governmental capacity in the course of implementing PPACA from discriminating against a health plan, plan sponsor, health care provider, or other person because of an unwillingness to provide coverage of, participate in, or refer for, specific items or services. Creates a private cause of action for the protection of individual rights created under this Act. Authorizes any person or entity to assert a violation of this Act as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding. Designates the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive and investigate complaints of discrimination based on this Act. Makes this Act effective as if it were included in PPACA.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 17 March 2011

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 17 March 2011

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 17 March 2011

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 28 March 2011

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 17 March 2011

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 17 March 2011

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 17 March 2011

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 225 sponsors and actors.

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Sources

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