Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
1308
An Act
To protect the free exercise of religion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSES.
H. R. 13082
(1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(c) JUDICIAL RELIEF.A person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation
of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and
obtain appropriate relief against a government. Standing to assert a claim or defense under
this section shall be governed by the general rules of standing under article III of the
Constitution.
SEC. 4. ATTORNEYS FEES.
(a) JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.Section 722 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1988) is amended
by inserting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, before or title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS.Section 504(b)(1)(C) of title 5, United States Code, is
amended
(1) by striking and at the end of clause (ii);
(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of clause (iii) and inserting , and; and
(3) by inserting (iv) the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993; after clause (iii).
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.This Act applies to all Federal and State law, and the implementation of
that law, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the enactment
of this Act.
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.Federal statutory law adopted after the date of the enactment of
this Act is subject to this Act unless such law explicitly excludes such application by
reference to this Act.
(c) RELIGIOUS BELIEF UNAFFECTED.Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize any
government to burden any religious belief.
SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE UNAFFECTED.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, interpret, or in any way address that
portion of the First Amendment prohibiting laws respecting the establishment of religion
(referred to in this section as the Establishment Clause). Granting government funding,
benefits, or exemptions, to the extent permissible under the Establishment Clause, shall not
constitute a violation of this
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H. R. 13083
Act. As used in this section, the term granting, used with respect to government funding,
benefits, or exemptions, does not include the denial of government funding, benefits, or
exemptions.
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All Info - H.R.1308 - 103rd Congress (1993-1994): Religious Freedom Restoration Act of... Page 1 of 15
All Bill Information (Except Text) for H.R.1308 Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993
103rd Congress (1993-1994)
Subject
Policy Area:
Committees:
House - Judiciary
Committee Reports:
View subjects
Latest Action:
Passed House
Resolving Differences
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law
Summary (2)
There are 2 summaries for this bill. View summaries
Shown Here:
Passed Senate amended (10/27/1993)
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 - Prohibits any agency, department, or official of the United States or any Stat
(the government) from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of gen
applicability, except that the government may burden a person's exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application
the burden to the person: (1) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and (2) is the least restrictive means of furtherin
that compelling governmental interest.
Sets forth provisions pertaining to judicial relief, attorney's fees, and applicability.
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Declares that: (1) nothing in this Act shall be construed to interpret the clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution
prohibiting the establishment of religion; (2) the granting of government funding, benefits, or exemptions, to the extent
permissible under that clause, shall not constitute a violation of this Act; and (3) as used in this Act, "granting" does not inc
the denial of government funding, benefits, or exemptions.
11/16/1993
Signed by President.
11/05/1993
Presented to President.
11/03/1993
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate
amendment Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H8713-8715)
10/27/1993
05/11/1993
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice
vote.
05/11/1993
03/11/1993
Introduced in House
Chamber
11/16/1993
11/16/1993
Signed by President.
11/05/1993
House
Presented to President.
Action By: House of Representatives
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Date
Chamber
11/03/1993-1:10pm
House
11/03/1993-1:10pm
House
11/03/1993-1:04pm
House
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the
Senate amendment.
Type of Action: Resolving Differences
Action By: House of Representatives
10/27/1993
Senate
10/27/1993
Senate
10/27/1993
Senate
Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language
of S. 578 amended.
Type of Action: Floor Consideration
Action By: Senate
10/27/1993
Senate
05/13/1993
Senate
05/11/1993-1:31pm
House
05/11/1993-1:31pm
House
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
Type of Action: Floor Consideration
Action By: House of Representatives
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Date
Chamber
05/11/1993-12:49pm
House
05/11/1993-12:49pm
House
05/11/1993-12:49pm
House
Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Type of Action: Floor Consideration
Action By: House of Representatives
05/11/1993
House
05/11/1993
House
03/24/1993
House
Ordered to be Reported.
Type of Action: Committee Consideration
Action By: House Judiciary
03/24/1993
House
03/17/1993
House
03/17/1993
House
03/16/1993
House
03/11/1993
House
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Date
Chamber
03/11/1993
House
03/11/1993
House
Introduced in House
Type of Action: Introduction and Referral
Action By: House of Representatives
Titles (5)
Popular Titles:
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Identified by CRS)
Short Titles:
Short Titles as Enacted:
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993
Official Titles:
Official Titles - House of Representatives
Official Title as Introduced:
To protect the free exercise of religion.
Subjects (9)
Subject Policy
Area:
Civil Rights and
Liberties, Minority
Issues
Legislative analysts
closely examine each
bill and resolution to
assign a policy area
term that best
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Religion
Religious liberty
Legislative subject
terms like those listed
to the right thoroughly
describe a measure's
substance and effects.
There are
approximately 1,000
issue-oriented, entity,
and geographic terms.
Cosponsors (170)
* = Original cosponsor
Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
03/11/1993
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03/11/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
03/11/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
04/02/1993
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04/02/1993
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Cosponsor
Date Cosponsored
04/02/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
04/29/1993
05/06/1993
05/06/1993
05/06/1993
05/10/1993
05/10/1993
Committees (1)
Committees, subcommittees and links to reports associated with this bill are listed here, as well as the nature and date of
committee activity and Congressional report number.
Committee / Subcommittee
Date
Activity
House Judiciary
03/11/1993
Referral
05/11/1993
Reporting
03/24/1993
Markup
https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/1308/all-info
Reports
H.Rept 103-88 Pa
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Committee / Subcommittee
Date
Activity
03/16/1993
Referral
03/17/1993
Reporting
03/17/1993
Markup
Reports
Bill
Latest Title
Relationships
to H.R.1308
Relationships
Identified by
Latest Action
S.578
Companion bill
Senate
H.R.1308
passed the
Senate in lieu
of this bill
Senate
10/27/1993 Indefinitely
postponed by Senate by
Unanimous Consent.
Senate
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SENATORS
COMMITTEES
VISITORS
XML
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of
the Secretary of the Senate
Question: On Passage of the Bill (final passage )
Vote Number:
331 Vote Date:
October 27, 1993, 10:25 AM
Required For
Vote Result: Bill Passed
1/2
Majority:
Measure Number:
H.R. 1308 (Religious Freedom Restoration Act of
1993 )
Measure Title:
A bill to protect the free exercise of religion.
Vote
YEAs
Counts:
NAYs
97
3
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By Home State
YEAs ---97
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Ford (D-KY)
Glenn (D-OH)
Metzenbaum (D-OH)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Mitchell (D-ME)
Moseley-Braun (D-IL)
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Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boren (D-OK)
Boxer (D-CA)
Bradley (D-NJ)
Breaux (D-LA)
Brown (R-CO)
Bryan (D-NV)
Bumpers (D-AR)
Burns (R-MT)
Campbell (D-CO)
Chafee (R-RI)
Coats (R-IN)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cohen (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coverdell (R-GA)
Craig (R-ID)
D'Amato (R-NY)
Danforth (R-MO)
Daschle (D-SD)
DeConcini (D-AZ)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dole (R-KS)
Domenici (R-NM)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durenberger (R-MN)
Exon (D-NE)
Faircloth (R-NC)
Gorton (R-WA)
Graham (D-FL)
Gramm (R-TX)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hatfield (R-OR)
Heflin (D-AL)
Hollings (D-SC)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (R-VT)
Johnston (D-LA)
Kassebaum (R-KS)
Kempthorne (R-ID)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerrey (D-NE)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Mack (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
NAYs ---3
Helms (R-NC)
Byrd (D-WV)
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Reid (D-NV)
Riegle (D-MI)
Robb (D-VA)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Roth (R-DE)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Sasser (D-TN)
Shelby (D-AL)
Simon (D-IL)
Simpson (R-WY)
Smith (R-NH)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thurmond (R-SC)
Wallop (R-WY)
Warner (R-VA)
Wellstone (D-MN)
Wofford (D-PA)
Mathews (D-TN)
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