Americans United Applauds Members of Congress for Introducing ‘Put Patients First Act’

Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) planning to introduce the Put Patients First Act today, which would protect patients’ health by blocking the Trump’s administration’s dangerous Denial of Care Rule that invites all health care workers to deny care to any patient – even in emergency situations – on the basis of religious or moral beliefs:

“Even as courts block President Trump’s dangerous Denial of Care Rule, it’s clear the administration will continue to push this rule and other policies that misuse religious freedom to license discrimination and harm to others. It’s more important than ever that Congress enact extra safeguards to protect people’s health and fundamental rights. We thank Reps. Lee and Pappas and Sen. Murray for introducing the Put Patients First Act and urge Congress to pass it swiftly. All of our lives and well-being are on the line.”

Americans United and allies have filed two federal lawsuits challenging the Denial of Care Rule: County of Santa Clara v. HHS and Mayor and City Council of Baltimore v. Azar. More information about those lawsuits is available here.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.