The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that aims to prevent the federal government from discriminating against healthcare providers that do not provide abortions.
The Conscience Protection Act of 2016, which passed the House on a vote of 245-182, requires that “The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ)…investigate complaints alleging discrimination based on an individual’s religious belief, moral conviction, or refusal to be involved in an abortion.”
The vote fell chiefly along party lines, with just one Republican, Richard Hanna of New York, opposing the bill and three Democrats supporting it.
The vote followed a lengthy floor debate. House speaker Paul Ryan took to the floor to voice support of the bill, saying “I know we disagree when life begins, but whoever you are, whatever you believe, I think this is one thing we all should be able to agree on.”
Colorado Democrat Diana DeGette questioned the need for the law, saying that doctors are already not forced to perform abortions against their religious beliefs. She decried the ability of employers and health care companies to override a woman’s reproductive healthcare decision.
DeGette added that “existing so-called conscience provisions are bad enough,” and this law would wrongly require the Office of Civil Rights and the Department of Justice to investigate claims of discrimination.
Those in favor of the bill called to mind the case of Cathy DeCarlo, a nurse who filed suit against Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York for being forced to assist in an abortion against her religious beliefs. DeGette, speaking against the bill, said that the hospital was forced to take remedial action to change its policy, and the case was therefore settled. However, DeCarlo appeared at a hearing last Friday in support of the bill, saying it is necessary for pro-life doctors and nurses.
The White House has already threatened to veto the bill if it passes the Republican-controlled Senate.
Conor Beck is an intern at THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
