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H.R. 940 114th Congress House

Health Care Conscience Rights Act

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… Show full official titleShow less

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, to amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 28, 2015 See on congress.gov
Health AbortionCivil actions and liabilityComprehensive health careEmployee benefits and pensions
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Health care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingLegal fees and court costsMedical educationReligionSales and excise taxes
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 27, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 13, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 12, 2015
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 12, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 27, 2015

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Health Care Conscience Rights Act

Amends title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to declare that nothing in that title requires an individual to purchase individual health insurance coverage that includes coverage of an abortion or other item or service to which the individual has a moral or religious objection, or prevent an issuer from offering coverage excluding such item or service to that individual.

Denies that title I requires a health plan sponsor or a health insurance issuer to cover an item or service to which the sponsor or issuer has a moral or religious objection.

Denies also that title I authorizes imposition of a tax, penalty, fee, fine, or other sanction, or imposition of coverage of such an item or service, on health insurance coverage that excludes such an item or service.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to codify the prohibition against any action by the federal government and any state or local government receiving federal financial assistance to subject a health professional, or health care facility, organization, or plan to discrimination on the basis that the entity refuses to participate in abortion-related activities.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of HHS to receive and investigate complaints alleging a violation of this abortion discrimination prohibition.

Creates a cause of action for the Attorney General or any person or entity adversely affected to obtain equitable or legal relief for any violation of this abortion discrimination prohibition. Allows commencement of an action and the granting of relief without a prerequisite pursuit of administrative remedies. Allows such an action against a federal or state governmental entity.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 5926 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017
  • S 1919 Health Care Conscience Rights Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 76
All 76 Republican 50
CULBERSON, JOHN
· Apr 14, 2016
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Jan 6, 2016
Denham, Jeff
· Nov 5, 2015
 R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Sep 28, 2015
 R
Stutzman, Marlin A.
Indiana · Sep 28, 2015
McHenry, Patrick
· Sep 10, 2015
Bridenstine, Jim
· Jul 28, 2015
Hensarling, Jeb
· Jul 28, 2015
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Jul 23, 2015
Woodall, Rob
· Jul 23, 2015
Noem, Kristi
· Jul 15, 2015
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Jun 10, 2015
ROYCE, ED
· Jun 10, 2015
 R
Newhouse, Dan
Washington · Apr 14, 2015
THORNBERRY, WILLIAM
· Apr 14, 2015
WALDEN, GREG
· Apr 14, 2015
 R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Apr 14, 2015
Abraham, Ralph
· Mar 25, 2015
 R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Mar 25, 2015
 R
Hill, J. French
Arkansas · Mar 25, 2015
 R
McClintock, Tom
California · Mar 25, 2015
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Mar 25, 2015
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Mar 17, 2015
 R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Mar 17, 2015
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · Mar 17, 2015
Walker, Mark
· Mar 17, 2015
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Mar 3, 2015
 R
Scalise, Steve
Louisiana · Mar 3, 2015
Collins, Doug
· Feb 25, 2015
Duffy, Sean
· Feb 25, 2015
 R
Emmer, Tom
Minnesota · Feb 25, 2015
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Feb 25, 2015
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Feb 12, 2015
Amash, Justin
· Feb 12, 2015
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Feb 12, 2015
Bishop, Mike
· Feb 12, 2015
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Buchanan, Vern
Florida · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Feb 12, 2015
 R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Feb 12, 2015
Gowdy, Trey
· Feb 12, 2015
Graves, Tom
· Feb 12, 2015
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Hudson, Richard
North Carolina · Feb 12, 2015
 R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Feb 12, 2015
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 940: Health Care Conscience Rights Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-940/
MLA
"H.R. 940: Health Care Conscience Rights Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-940/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 940, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-940/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 940: Health Care Conscience Rights Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-940/)
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