Legis Daily

Do No Harm Act

USA116th CongressS-593| Senate 
| Updated: 2/28/2019
Kamala D. Harris

Kamala D. Harris

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (33)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Do No Harm Act This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has contracted, granted, or made an agreement to provide to a beneficiary; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
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Timeline
Feb 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Feb 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 8, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1450
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • February 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • April 8, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1450
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Related Bills

  • HR 116-1450: Do No Harm Act
Civil actions and liabilityCrimes against womenDisability and health-based discriminationEmployee leaveEmployment discrimination and employee rightsFirst Amendment rightsGovernment liabilityHealth care coverage and accessHousing discriminationLabor-management relationsReligionSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationWages and earningsYouth employment and child labor

Do No Harm Act

USA116th CongressS-593| Senate 
| Updated: 2/28/2019
Do No Harm Act This bill prohibits the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to specified federal laws or the implementation of such laws. Currently, RFRA prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest when using the least restrictive means. Under the bill, RFRA is inapplicable to laws or the implementation of laws that protect against discrimination or the promotion of equal opportunity (e.g., the Civil Rights Act of 1964); require employers to provide wages, other compensation, or benefits, including leave; protect collective activity in the workplace; protect against child labor, abuse, or exploitation; or provide for access to, information about, referrals for, provision of, or coverage for, any health care item or service. The bill prevents RFRA from being used to deny (1) goods or services the government has contracted, granted, or made an agreement to provide to a beneficiary; or (2) a person's full and equal enjoyment of a government-provided good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation. In order for a person to assert a RFRA claim or defense in a judicial proceeding, the government must be a party to the proceeding.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Feb 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Feb 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 8, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-1450
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • February 28, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 28, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • April 8, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-1450
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
Kamala D. Harris

Kamala D. Harris

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (33)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Related Bills

  • HR 116-1450: Do No Harm Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityCrimes against womenDisability and health-based discriminationEmployee leaveEmployment discrimination and employee rightsFirst Amendment rightsGovernment liabilityHealth care coverage and accessHousing discriminationLabor-management relationsReligionSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationWages and earningsYouth employment and child labor