Do No Harm Act
Sen. Booker Introduces Do No Harm Act to Limit Religious Exemptions from Civil Rights and Healthcare Laws
The Do No Harm Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for review. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill amends the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) so that religious beliefs can no longer be used as a legal excuse to discriminate against others or deny them protections under federal civil rights laws, disability rights laws, family leave laws, and domestic violence protections.
From policy text
“a protection against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.), and the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291 et seq.)”
View in full text - Religious exemptions could no longer be used to deny people access to healthcare services, medical information, referrals, or insurance coverage. This is designed to protect patients whose employers or providers might otherwise cite religious objections to withhold care.
From policy text
“access to, information about, a referral for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service”
View in full text - Employers would not be able to use RFRA to avoid paying wages, benefits, or leave they owe workers, and protections for collective workplace activity (like union organizing) would also be shielded from religious exemption claims.
From policy text
“an employer to provide a wage, other compensation, or a benefit, including leave, or a standard protecting collective activity in the workplace”
View in full text - Organizations receiving government funding through contracts or grants could not use religious beliefs to refuse providing promised services to the people those programs are meant to help.
From policy text
“any term of a government contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other award, that provides funds directly or indirectly, and that requires a good, service, function, or activity to be performed for or provided to a beneficiary of or a participant in a program or activity funded, directly or indirectly, by a government contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or other award”
View in full text - The bill also clarifies that RFRA can only be used in lawsuits where the government is a party, preventing private individuals or businesses from using the law as a shield against each other in private disputes.
From policy text
“judicial proceeding to which a government is a party and obtain appropriate relief against that government”
View in full text - The bill includes protections against using religious exemptions to bypass child labor, child abuse, and child exploitation laws.
From policy text
“a protection against child labor, child abuse, or child exploitation”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Related News
2 articles
'Do No Harm Act' gets introduced yet again
A coalition of Democratic legislators has reintroduced the 'Do No Harm Act' in the U.S. Congress to clarify that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) cannot be used to harm others. The bill seeks to ensure RFRA is not used to ignore civil rights, labor, or healthcare laws.
Reclaim Religious Freedom – Tell Congress to Support the Do No Harm Act
The American Humanist Association reports on the reintroduction of the Do No Harm Act by Senator Cory Booker and Representative Bobby Scott, arguing the bill is fundamental to ensuring religious freedom is not used as a license to discriminate.
Related Bills
1 billSource Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Do No Harm Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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