Skip to main content
S 1279 113th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics First Amendment rights Religion

Freedom to Pray Act

Introduced: July 11, 2013 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 11, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jul 11, 2013
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Freedom to Pray Act - Prohibits the federal government from revoking or withholding federal financial assistance that would otherwise be provided to any recipient on the basis of religious activities that are conducted voluntarily and initiated by participants in a program or activity carried out by such recipient.

Prohibits this Act from being construed to authorize the United States or any state or political subdivision to: (1) sponsor a religious activity, (2) prohibit a recipient of federal financial assistance from ensuring that a religious activity does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of the program or activities carried out by such recipient, (3) require any person to participate in prayer or other religious activity, or (4) compel any employee or agent of a program or activity that is carried out by a recipient of federal financial assistance to participate in an activity if the content of the speech at the activity is contrary to their beliefs.

What's happening now July 11, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1279: Freedom to Pray Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1279/
MLA
"S. 1279: Freedom to Pray Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1279/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1279, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1279/.
Markdown link
[S. 1279: Freedom to Pray Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1279/)
Report a problem