This bill, titled the "Do No Harm Act," seeks to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) by introducing significant exceptions to its application. The primary goal is to prevent RFRA from being used to justify actions that cause meaningful harm to third parties or infringe upon established civil rights and public welfare protections. Specifically, RFRA would no longer apply to federal laws that provide protections against discrimination, promote equal opportunity, or ensure access to healthcare services. This includes safeguarding laws like the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those related to family leave and violence against women. Further exceptions prevent RFRA from overriding laws concerning employer-provided wages, benefits, collective bargaining, or protections against child labor, abuse, and exploitation. Additionally, RFRA would not apply to terms in government contracts or grants that require services for program beneficiaries, nor would it allow denial of equal enjoyment of government-provided goods or services. The bill also clarifies that RFRA is intended solely for judicial proceedings where the government is a party , thereby precluding its use in litigation between private entities.
This bill, titled the "Do No Harm Act," seeks to amend the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) by introducing significant exceptions to its application. The primary goal is to prevent RFRA from being used to justify actions that cause meaningful harm to third parties or infringe upon established civil rights and public welfare protections. Specifically, RFRA would no longer apply to federal laws that provide protections against discrimination, promote equal opportunity, or ensure access to healthcare services. This includes safeguarding laws like the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and those related to family leave and violence against women. Further exceptions prevent RFRA from overriding laws concerning employer-provided wages, benefits, collective bargaining, or protections against child labor, abuse, and exploitation. Additionally, RFRA would not apply to terms in government contracts or grants that require services for program beneficiaries, nor would it allow denial of equal enjoyment of government-provided goods or services. The bill also clarifies that RFRA is intended solely for judicial proceedings where the government is a party , thereby precluding its use in litigation between private entities.