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HR 1179 112th Congress House

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011

Official title: To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to protect rights of conscience with regard to requirements for coverage of specific items and services.

Introduced: February 6, 2012 See on congress.gov
Health Civil actions and liabilityComprehensive health careHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and access
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Health personnelMedical ethicsReligion
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 28, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 17, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 17, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 28, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 143
CAMP, DAVE
· Mar 27, 2012
Granger, Kay
· Mar 6, 2012
R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Feb 29, 2012
R
Issa, Darrell
California · Feb 29, 2012
R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Feb 29, 2012
Chaffetz, Jason
· Feb 28, 2012
GALLEGLY, ELTON
· Feb 28, 2012
Hensarling, Jeb
· Feb 28, 2012
LOBIONDO, FRANK
· Feb 28, 2012
R
Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck"
Tennessee · Feb 17, 2012
R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Feb 17, 2012
McCarthy, Kevin
· Feb 17, 2012
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Feb 17, 2012
SHIMKUS, JOHN
· Feb 17, 2012
Amash, Justin
· Feb 16, 2012
R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Feb 16, 2012
Graves, Tom
· Feb 16, 2012
LATOURETTE, STEVEN
· Feb 16, 2012
R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Feb 16, 2012
ROS-LEHTINEN, ILEANA
· Feb 16, 2012
R
Scott, Austin
Georgia · Feb 16, 2012
STEARNS, CLIFF
· Feb 16, 2012
D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · Feb 15, 2012
Sullivan, John
· Feb 15, 2012
R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Feb 15, 2012
Alexander, Rodney
· Feb 14, 2012
R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Feb 14, 2012
DUNCAN, JOHN
· Feb 14, 2012
EMERSON, JO
· Feb 14, 2012
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Feb 14, 2012
Ryan, Paul
· Feb 14, 2012
UPTON, FRED
· Feb 14, 2012
Poe, Ted
· Feb 13, 2012
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Feb 13, 2012
R
Womack, Steve
Arkansas · Feb 13, 2012
R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Feb 9, 2012
Campbell, John
· Feb 9, 2012
CULBERSON, JOHN
· Feb 9, 2012
R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Feb 9, 2012
HERGER, WALLY
· Feb 9, 2012
R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Feb 9, 2012
Flores, Bill
· Feb 8, 2012
JOHNSON, TIMOTHY
· Feb 8, 2012
Labrador, Raul
· Feb 8, 2012
Lance, Leonard
· Feb 8, 2012
Renacci, James
· Feb 8, 2012
Roby, Martha
· Feb 8, 2012
Rokita, Todd
· Feb 8, 2012
Shuster, Bill
· Feb 8, 2012
BARTON, JOE
· Feb 7, 2012
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1179: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1179/
MLA
"H.R. 1179: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1179/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1179, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1179/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1179: Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1179/)
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