Bill Text: MI HR0185 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize Congress to enact the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 and to urge the President of the United States to reverse the Department of Health and Human Services regulation that violates religious liberties and forces almost every private health plan in the country to include coverage for services that are contrary to the religious beliefs and practices of certain faiths.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 19-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-15 - Roll Call # 56 Yeas 67 Nays 39 [HR0185 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HR0185-Introduced.html
Rep. LaFontaine offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 185.
Whereas, Recent rules issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) place religious employers in the position of violating their conscience by forcing all health insurers and employers to cover specific services that could violate their religious practices. While the ruling exempts some religious organizations, the scope of the exemption is so narrow that most faith-based employers are disqualified; and
Whereas, Under this rule, religious leaders and organizations, including hospitals, universities, and service organizations, are mandated by federal law to comply with a regulation that violates their conscience while also paying a cost, through offering certain coverage without deductibles or co-pays in their employee health insurance; and
Whereas, This over-reaching policy is a radical attack on religion and the First Amendment rights of individuals and organizations to operate according to their conscience. The passage of the Respect for the Rights of Conscience Act of 2011(H.R.1179/S.1467) would permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary (in the case of individual coverage) without penalty; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress to enact the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act of 2011 and to urge the President of the United States to reverse the Department of Health and Human Services regulation that violates religious liberties and forces almost every private health plan in the country to include coverage for services that are contrary to the religious beliefs and practices of certain faiths; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Office of the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
