Sen. Cornyn Backs Legislation To Exempt
Religious Organizations From Overreaching Obamacare Mandates
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, this week, announced he is a cosponsor of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012, which would provide protections for individuals and organizations who, because of their religious beliefs, are opposed to certain government mandates included in Obamacare. Specifically, the bill would insert a conscience clause to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that exempts faith-based organizations from being required to offer their employees private insurance that includes coverage for birth control, sterilizations, and abortifacients if they are contrary to the organization’s moral or religious beliefs.
“I’m proud to support this important legislation that seeks to rein in Obamacare’s unprecedented government overreach into the religious freedoms of faith-based organizations. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will join me in passing this legislation to affirm the rights of religious organizations in Texas and across the country.”
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2012 was introduced by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, and inserts the following conscience clause into the PPACA law:
‘‘(d) CONSCIENCE PROTECTIONS.-
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.-No guideline or regulation issued pursuant to subsection (a)(4), or any other provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, or the amendments made by that Act (Public Law 110-148), shall-
‘‘(A) require any individual or entity to offer, provide, or purchase coverage for a contraceptive or sterilization service, or related education or counseling, to which that individual or entity is opposed on the basis of religious belief;
“(B) require any individual or entity opposed by reason of religious belief to provide coverage of a contraceptive or sterilization service or to engage in government-mandated speech regarding such a service.”
Senator Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Armed Services and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.
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