I
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 361
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 20, 2011
Mr. Fleming (for himself and Mr. Boren) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit certain abortion-related discrimination in governmental activities.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of
2011
.
Abortion non-discrimination
Section 245 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 238n) is amended—
in the section
heading, by striking and licensing of physicians
and
inserting ,
licensing, and practice of physicians and other health care
entities
;
in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
the entity refuses—
to undergo training in the performance of induced abortions;
to require or provide such training;
to perform, participate in, provide coverage of, or pay for induced abortions; or
to provide referrals for such training or such abortions;
;
in subsection (b),
by striking an accreditation standards that requires
and
inserting an accreditation standard that requires
;
in subsection (c), by amending paragraphs (1) and (2) to read as follows:
The term financial assistance, with respect to a government program, means governmental payments to cover the cost of health care services or benefits, or other Federal payments, grants, or loans to promote or otherwise facilitate health-related activities.
The term health care entity includes an individual physician or other health professional, a postgraduate physician training program, a participant in a program of training in the health professions, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, an accountable care organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan.
;
in subsection (c), by adding a new paragraph (4) as follows:
The term State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance includes any agency or other governmental unit of a State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance.
.
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
Remedies
In general
The courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of this section by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including—
injunctions prohibiting conduct that violates this section; and
orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of Federal financial assistance to a State or local government, or to a specific offending agency or program of a State or local government, until such time as the conduct prohibited by this section has ceased.
Commencement of action
An action under this section may be instituted by—
any health care entity that has standing to complain of an actual or threatened violation of this section; or
the Attorney General of the United States.
Administration
The Secretary shall designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services—
to receive complaints alleging a violation of this section; and
to pursue the investigation of such complaints, in coordination with the Attorney General.
.