Clergy Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/227
Last Updated: July 17, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

ID: F000480

Follow the money

The bill

Clergy Act

HR. 227, 119th Congress.

The sponsor

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$69,300 raised

21 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

55% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Health and Human Services" section, p. 527-529 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

April 27, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt inhabitants of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Clergy Act (HR 227) claims to allow members of the clergy to revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to placate a specific constituency while perpetuating the myth that Congress cares about the welfare of its citizens.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill allows clergy members to opt-out of their Social Security exemption, but only if they file an application by a certain deadline (because, you know, God works on a strict timeline). This "generous" offer comes with a caveat: they must pay back taxes on their previously exempt income. What a wonderful opportunity for the IRS to collect more revenue! The bill also mandates a report to Congress on how to inform clergy members of this "benefit." Because, clearly, the most pressing issue facing our nation is ensuring that ministers are aware of their Social Security options.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The obvious beneficiaries of this bill are clergy members who want to opt-out of their exemption. But let's not be naive – this is merely a token gesture to appease a specific voting bloc. The real stakeholders are the politicians who sponsored this bill, seeking to curry favor with religious groups and bolster their reelection chances.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will have a negligible impact on the overall Social Security system, but it will provide a nice soundbite for politicians to tout their "support" for clergy members. In reality, it's a drop in the ocean, a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The true implications lie in the fact that Congress is more concerned with pandering to special interest groups than addressing the systemic issues plaguing our nation.

Diagnosis: This bill is a classic case of " Legislative Laryngitis" – a condition where politicians pretend to care about a specific issue, but ultimately do nothing to address the underlying problems. The symptoms include empty rhetoric, token gestures, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy. Treatment: a strong dose of skepticism, a pinch of cynicism, and a healthy disregard for political spin. Prognosis: the patient (our democracy) will continue to suffer from this affliction until we, as voters, demand better.

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$69,300
17 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,300
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000

No PAC contributions found

1
TULE RIVER TRIBAL COUNCIL
1 transaction
$3,300

No committee contributions found

1
ROJEWSKI, COLE
2 transactions
$6,600
2
EKEGREN, JONATHAN
2 transactions
$6,600
3
HAYDE, MICHAEL K.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
KHOURI, LAURA A.
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ANDERSON, DARIUS
1 transaction
$3,300
6
LEPRINO, TERRY
1 transaction
$3,300
7
HUNTER, KEN
1 transaction
$3,300
8
BAND MIWOK INDIANS, SHINGLE SPRINGS
1 transaction
$3,300
9
MOJIBI, AMANDA
1 transaction
$3,300
10
MOJIBI, CYRUS
1 transaction
$3,300
11
BECK, PATRICK
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SINGH, MATAB
1 transaction
$3,300
13
LAZZERINI, JR., WILLIAM
1 transaction
$3,300
14
LAZZERINI, VICTORIA
1 transaction
$3,300
15
PANKEY, MONA
1 transaction
$3,300
16
PANKEY, PETE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

ID: T000460

Top Contributors

10

1
ACTBLUE
COMSOMERVILLE, MA
$500
Oct 27, 2024
2
ACTBLUE
COMSOMERVILLE, MA
$30
Nov 3, 2024
3
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND OF MIWOK INDIANS
OrganizationSHINGLE SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
4
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
OrganizationBROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
5
YOCHA DEHE WINTUN NATION
OrganizationBROOKS, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023
6
EASTERN BANK OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Feb 7, 2024
7
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jun 23, 2024
8
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 23, 2023
9
FEDERATED INDIANS OF GRATON RANCHERIA
OrganizationROHNERT PARK, CA
$3,300
May 23, 2023
10
MOORETOWN RANCHERIA
OrganizationOROVILLE, CA
$3,300
Sep 28, 2024

Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]

ID: K000376

Top Contributors

10

1
SYCUAN BAND OF THE KUMEYAAY NATION
OrganizationEL CAJON, CA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
2
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBE
OrganizationLEDYARD, CT
$3,300
Oct 23, 2023
3
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 24, 2023
4
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
5
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,000
Sep 30, 2024
6
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$3,000
Nov 4, 2024
7
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,300
Jun 28, 2024
8
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Jun 26, 2023
9
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Oct 10, 2024
10
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$1,000
Mar 29, 2023

Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

ID: C001133

Top Contributors

10

1
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
PACSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$1,000
Jun 14, 2024
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
3
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
4
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$3,300
Jun 30, 2024
5
DELTA AIRLINES
OrganizationATLANTA, GA
$2,500
Jul 30, 2024
6
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,000
Oct 8, 2024
7
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$1,834
Jun 30, 2024
8
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Nov 5, 2024
9
COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES
OrganizationPARKER, AZ
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023
10
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023

Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]

ID: L000585

Top Contributors

10

1
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Mar 30, 2023
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$3,300
Jun 14, 2024
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 15, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 16, 2023
5
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,300
Oct 28, 2024
6
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$1,000
Feb 8, 2023
7
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Mar 30, 2023
8
SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
OrganizationSCOTTSDALE, AZ
$1,000
Mar 31, 2023
9
D CONSTRUCTION, INC.
OrganizationCOAL CITY, IL
$1,000
Mar 29, 2024
10
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Jun 30, 2024

Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

ID: D000617

Top Contributors

10

1
JAMESTOWN S'KLALLAM TRIBE
OrganizationSEQUIM, WA
$6,600
Mar 31, 2023
2
LUMMI INDIAN NATION
OrganizationBELLINGHAM, WA
$5,000
Jul 17, 2024
3
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$3,700
Jun 28, 2024
4
SNOQUALMIE TRIBE
OrganizationSNOQUALMIE, WA
$3,300
Nov 2, 2023
5
JAMESTOWN S'KLALLAM TRIBE
OrganizationSEQUIM, WA
$3,300
Mar 31, 2023
6
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationAUBURN, WA
$3,300
Jun 1, 2023
7
THE TULALIP TRIBES OF WASHINGTON
OrganizationTULALIP, WA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
8
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS
OrganizationTACOMA, WA
$3,300
Jun 28, 2024
9
THE TULALIP TRIBES OF WASHINGTON
OrganizationTULALIP, WA
$3,300
Jun 20, 2024
10
MUCKLESHOOT INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationAUBURN, WA
$3,300
Aug 13, 2024

Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]

ID: S001199

Top Contributors

10

1
MASRY, LOUIS
LEM SETTLEMENT GROUP • CEO-PRESIDENT
IndividualSOLANA BEACH, CA
$6,600
Jan 17, 2024
2
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN A.
BLACKSTONE • CEO AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jul 13, 2023
3
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jul 14, 2023
4
WALTERS, WILLIAM
SELECT MEDICAL • SVP
IndividualMCLEAN, VA
$5,000
Feb 5, 2024
5
REYNOLDS, GARY A.
RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL SERVICES • FINANCIAL ADVISOR
IndividualLANCASTER, PA
$4,597
Mar 27, 2024
6
PARKER, ALEXANDRA MRS.
SELF EMPLOYED • PHILANTHROPY
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 21, 2024
7
PARKER, ALEXANDRA MRS.
SELF EMPLOYED • PHILANTHROPY
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 21, 2024
8
PARKER, SEAN MR.
SEAN N. PARKER FOUNDATION • CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 21, 2024
9
PARKER, SEAN MR.
SEAN N. PARKER FOUNDATION • CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$3,300
Mar 21, 2024
10
MASRY, LOUIS
LEM SETTLEMENT GROUP • CEO-PRESIDENT
IndividualSOLANA BEACH, CA
$3,300
Jan 17, 2024

Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

ID: Y000067

Top Contributors

10

1
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$8,300
Apr 25, 2023
2
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
3
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION
OrganizationMASHANTUCKET, CT
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
4
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Mar 16, 2024
5
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$3,300
Apr 25, 2023
6
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
7
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
8
SAGINAW CHIPPEWA TRIBE OF MICHIGAN
OrganizationMT. PLEASANT, MI
$2,000
Oct 27, 2023
9
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$1,700
Apr 27, 2023
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$1,650
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4]

ID: E000298

Top Contributors

10

1
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS TRIBAL OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$2,300
Feb 27, 2024
2
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,500
Mar 15, 2024
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,000
Jun 30, 2023
4
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS TRIBAL OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,000
Mar 31, 2023
5
WILLIS, THOMAS
CONESTOGA ENERGY PARTNERS • CEO
IndividualLIBERAL, KS
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024
6
KLAUSMEYER, DON
KLAUSMEYER CONSTRUCTION • OWNER
IndividualCLEARWATER, KS
$3,300
Jul 31, 2023
7
LEE, JAMES
LEE AEROSPACE INC. • OWNER
IndividualWICHITA, KS
$3,300
Sep 30, 2023
8
BEREN, ADAM
BEREXCO • CEO AND PRESIDENT
IndividualWICHITA, KS
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
9
BEREN, ADAM
BEREXCO • CEO AND PRESIDENT
IndividualWICHITA, KS
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
10
CHOUAKE, ESTHER
SELF • PHYSICAN
IndividualENGLEWOOD, NJ
$3,300
Dec 16, 2023

Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]

ID: S001172

Top Contributors

10

1
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Jul 25, 2024
2
PARKER, SEAN
SEAN N PARKER FOUNDATION • CHAIRMAN
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$13,200
Feb 28, 2024
3
ANDERSON, S MICKEY MR.
BAXTER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP • PRESIDENT
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$13,200
Apr 6, 2023
4
STINSON, KENNETH E. MR.
PETER KIEWIT SONS INC. • CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$13,200
Apr 6, 2023
5
CASSLING, MICHAEL MR.
CASSLING DIAGNOSTIC • PRESIDENT AND CEO
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$13,200
Aug 3, 2023
6
HAWKINS, FRED H. MR. JR.
HAWKINS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY • CEO
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,600
Nov 5, 2023
7
KORALESKI, JACK MR.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualOMAHA, NE
$6,600
May 1, 2023
8
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE • CEO/ CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jun 20, 2023
9
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jun 21, 2023
10
DUGAN, VINCENT J. MR.
TREGO DUGAN AVIATION OF GRAND ISLAND • PRESIDENT
IndividualNORTH PLATTE, NE
$6,600
Sep 28, 2023

Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]

ID: C001126

Top Contributors

10

1
KITTLE, JEFFREY
KITTLE PROPERTY GROUP • CEO
IndividualINDIANAPOLIS, IN
$6,600
Oct 24, 2023
2
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 28, 2023
3
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE • CEO AND CHAIRMAN
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 27, 2023
4
BAGAN, JOSEPH W.
STAQ PHARMA • CEO
IndividualCOLUMBUS, OH
$4,000
Oct 14, 2024
5
BAGAN, JOSEPH W.
IndividualCOLUMBUS, OH
$4,000
Oct 16, 2024
6
BORKOWSKI, BRIAN
HEARTLAND CHARGING SERVICES • COO
IndividualBELLEAIR BEACH, FL
$3,435
Oct 15, 2024
7
FISCHER, ALEX
SELF EMPLOYED • CONSULTING REAL ESTATE
IndividualCOLUMBUS, OH
$3,300
Oct 8, 2024
8
BARRERAS, LORI
STATE OF OHIO • COMMISSIONER, OCRC
IndividualCOLUMBUS, OH
$3,300
Nov 8, 2024
9
LAIRD, JAMES F.
DIAMOND HILL • EXECUTIVE
IndividualDUBLIN, OH
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
10
RICHARDSON, JOHN G.
SUGARCREEK • CHAIRMAN
IndividualCINCINNATI, OH
$3,300
Dec 16, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

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Organizations
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Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 54 nodes and 36 connections (43 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $114,180

Top Donors - Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]

Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount

1 Org16 Individuals

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Health and Human Services

Weak
Vector: 58%
Pages: 527-529AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The Clergy Act concerns clergy opting into Social Security coverage, while the Project 2025 excerpt focuses on HHS OCR authority to review RFRA-based religious accommodations for vaccines and anti-discrimination rules; they share only a broad theme of religious conscience exemptions."

Key themes:religious exemptionconscience rightsRFRA

— 495 — Department of Health and Human Services l HHS should restore OCR authority to review requests for and render opinions on the application of RFRA to requests for religious accommodation of people, families, and doctors who cannot in good conscience take or administer vaccines, including those made or tested with aborted fetal cell lines. l HHS should restore Section 1557, Section 504, and other OCR regulations and fix guidance documents. In 2020, the Trump Administration’s OCR published regulations under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act that restored the agency’s enforcement of that law to the limits of its statutory text, deferred to the ACA’s widespread use of a binary biological conception of sex discrimination, and specified that the regulation must comply with the religious exemption and abortion neutrality clauses in Title IX from which it is derived as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and other laws. Courts blocked core provisions of that rule from going into effect. In 2022, the Biden Administration proposed to reinstate a rule contradicting the scope of the statute and imposing nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is expected that this rule will be finalized in 2023 even though several courts have issued rulings against the interpretation on which it is based. l OCR should return its enforcement of sex discrimination to the statutory framework of Section 1557 and Title IX. Specifically, it should: 1. Remove all guidance issued under the Biden Administration concerning sexual orientation and gender identity under Section 1557, particularly the May 2021 announcement of enforcement82 and March 2022 statement threatening states that protect minors from genital mutilation.83 2. Issue a general statement of policy specifying that it will not enforce any prohibition on sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in the Section 1557 regulation and that it will prioritize compliance with the First Amendment, RFRA, and federal conscience laws in any case implicating those claims. DOJ should commit to defending these actions aggressively against inevitable court challenges, including under cases such as Heckler v. Chaney.84 — 496 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise 3. Issue a proposed rule to restore the Trump regulations under Section 1557, explicitly interpreting the law not to include sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination based on the textual approach to male and female biology taken by Congress in the ACA, the need to recognize biological distinctions as part of the sound practice of health care, and the need to ensure protections of medical judgment and conscience. DOJ should agree to defend this rule to the Supreme Court if necessary. 4. Issue a general statement of policy announcing that it plans to enforce Section 1557 discrimination bans by refocusing on serious cases of race, sex, and disability discrimination. In particular, OCR should highlight its 2019 investigation and voluntary resolution agreement with Michigan State University based on the sexual abuse of gymnasts by Larry Nassar. OCR should also coordinate with the Department of Education on a public education and civil rights enforcement campaign to ensure that female college athletes who become pregnant are no longer pressured to obtain abortions; pursue race discrimination claims against entities that adopt or impose racially discriminatory policies such as those based on critical race theory; and announce its intention to enforce disability rights laws to protect children born prematurely, children with disabilities, and children born alive after abortions. 5. Issue and finalize the Trump-era draft disability rights regulations concerning crisis standards of care and use of Quality of Life Adjusted Years (QALYs), and reissue and finalize a disability regulation (withdrawn by the Biden Administration) that prohibited discriminatory application of assisted suicide and denial of life-saving treatments for disabled newborns. l OCR should withdraw its pharmacy abortion mandate guidance. OCR should withdraw its “Obligations Under Federal Civil Rights Laws to Ensure Access to Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care Services” guidance for retail pharmacies,85 which purports to address nondiscrimination obligations of pharmacies under federal civil rights laws and in fact orders them to stock and dispense first-trimester abortion drugs. The guidance invents this so-called requirement and fails to acknowledge that pharmacies and pharmacists have the right not to participate in abortions, including pill-induced abortions, if doing so would violate their sincere moral or religious objections. Moreover, no federal civil rights laws preempt state pro-life statutes.

Small Business Administration

Minimal
Vector: 59%
Pages: 786-788AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The Clergy Act focuses on Social Security participation for religious workers, while the Project 2025 policy addresses SBA loan program accountability, fraud cleanup, and religious entity eligibility for disaster and business loans. There is no substantive overlap in subject matter, objectives, or policy mechanisms between the two."

— 753 — Small Business Administration COVID-19 Lending Program Accountability and Cleanup. A major immediate priority for the next Administration should be a final accounting and accelerated cleanup of fraudulent COVID-19 loan and grant activity. As noted by the SBA IG, “managing COVID-19 stimulus lending is the greatest overall challenge facing SBA, and it may likely continue to be for many years as the agency grapples with fraud in the programs….”40 The next Administration should: l Consider bringing in private-sector support and expertise to close out these programs. Forgiveness and fraud must be dealt with as swiftly as possible, and law enforcement officials must pursue fraud vigorously. Entities receiving PPP loans that did not meet eligibility for forgiveness must be required to pay back the money. For example, under the CARES Act,41 PPP loan applicants generally were eligible only if, together with all their affiliates, they had no more than 500 employees. Numerous Planned Parenthood affiliates self-certified eligibility for PPP loans during the initial wave of loans that were governed by the CARES Act’s size requirement. Many Senators and Representatives asserted that these Planned Parenthood organizations were ineligible because— considered together with their affiliates—they exceeded the maximum eligible size.42 The Trump Administration SBA notified several Planned Parenthood PPP recipients of its preliminary determination of their ineligibility and of SBA’s authority to take various actions against applicants that falsely certified their eligibility.43 To date, despite continued oversight attempts by Members of Congress,44 the SBA has taken no action on the Planned Parenthood loans other than to forgive them, and in 2021, it approved new PPP loans to Planned Parenthood affiliates.45 l Cooperate with ongoing congressional oversight efforts and determine whether SBA has authority to reverse the forgiveness decisions. If it does have that authority, the SBA should reverse the forgiveness decisions for the subject loans, reiterate its preliminary determinations of ineligibility, investigate the matter more thoroughly, and take all appropriate action when its investigation concludes. Regardless of whether it reverses its forgiveness, if its investigation uncovers evidence that Planned Parenthood affiliates or any other loan recipients knowingly misrepresented their eligibility in their applications, the SBA should make appropriate referrals to the Department of Justice. — 754 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Disaster Loan Program and Direct Lending. The SBA’s disaster loan pro- gram provides low-interest loans to personal, business, and nonprofit borrowers following a federally declared disaster. The program suffers from problems of coordination with Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) disas- ter assistance. For example, disaster relief applicants have an incentive to avoid being approved for SBA disaster loans in order to increase the amount of FEMA assistance for which they are eligible. Moreover, the availability of disaster loans reduces individuals’ incentives to purchase disaster-related insurance. More than 90 percent of SBA disaster loans are loans to individuals such as homeowners, not to small businesses. In view of the challenges the SBA has experienced in its administration of this program, as well as the fraud and abuse in the EIDL COVID-19–related program and the IG’s concern that the systemic problems within this lending program undermine the SBA’s work, the next Administration should: l Work with Congress to assess the extent to which disaster loans should be offered by another agency rather than the SBA and explore private-sector channels for administering the loans. l Specify clearly that no new direct lending programs will be developed at the SBA. Eligibility of Religious Entities for SBA Loans. Current SBA regulations46 and SBA Form 197147 make certain religious entities ineligible to participate in several SBA loan programs. The Trump Administration proposed a rule that would remove the provisions on the ground that they violate the First Amendment.48 Subsequent Supreme Court decisions have made their unconstitutionality clearer.49 In an April 3, 2020, letter to Congress pursuant to 28 U.S. Code § 530D,50 the Trump Administration SBA advised that two such provisions violate the Free Exer- cise Clause of the First Amendment and that it therefore would not enforce them. On January 19, 2021, the Trump Administration SBA proposed a rule to remove all of the unconstitutional religious exclusions from its regulations.51 The SBA has not acted on the proposed rule. A similar religious exclusion once appeared in the regulation governing eligibil- ity for SBA Business Loan Programs,52 but it was removed in a June 2022 final rule that noted tension with the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent.53 That final rule announced that the SBA would nonetheless continue to make religious eligibility determinations for business loan applicants to comply with putative Establishment Clause requirements,54 but Supreme Court precedent and Office of Legal Counsel memoranda refute the notion that large government-backed loan programs raise any Establishment Clause concerns.55

Department of Health and Human Services

Minimal
Vector: 57%
Pages: 515-517AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The Clergy Act focuses on Social Security opt-in provisions for religious workers, while the Project 2025 policy excerpt addresses HHS initiatives related to family caregivers, telehealth licensure, contraceptive mandates, and women's preventive services—there is no thematic or policy overlap between the two."

— 483 — Department of Health and Human Services l Readdress the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. While in theory the strategy aims to support family members with duties to care for older family members, the plan is overly focused on racial and “LGBTQ+ equity.” The strategy should be examined to establish an efficient plan to support caregivers and their families. There should also be a review of its COVID-19 policies. HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA) l Congress should allow CMS to use the 340B data that HRSA collects rather than having CMS conduct its own survey, especially in view of the U.S. Supreme Court’s American Hospital Association v. Becerra decision.69 The legislation should also create penalties for those who do not respond to HRSA’s data collection. l Legally define the locus of service as where the provider is located during the telehealth visit rather than where the patient is. With such a definition, states could continue to reserve their powers to establish the standards for licensure and scope of practice. The providers could ensure continuity and consistency of care no matter where their patients might move while maintaining the licenses that make the most sense for them. Americans are far more mobile and technologically advanced today than they were when most health care laws were written. Telehealth has become increasingly important, particularly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has great potential in rural and other areas where there are shortages of health care providers. HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth includes a program known as the Licensure Portability Grant Program, which bolsters state efforts to reform licensing laws to maximize telehealth flexibility. HRSA does not have the authority through this office to dictate licensure laws; that power has typically been reserved to the states. However, telehealth across state lines, when permitted, is interstate commerce, which can be regulated by the federal government according to the Constitution. l Restore Trump religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate (also a CMS rule). HHS should rescind, if finalized, the regulation titled “Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act,” proposed jointly by HHS, Treasury, and Labor.70 This rule proposes to amend Trump-era final rules regarding religious and moral exemptions and accommodations for coverage of certain preventive services under the ACA. Preventive services include contraception, and — 484 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise it appears the proposed rule would change the existing regulations for religious and moral exemptions to the ACA’s contraception mandate. There is no need for further rulemaking that curtails existing exemptions and accommodations. l Require HRSA to use rulemaking to update the women’s preventive services mandate. The contraceptive mandate issued under Obamacare has been the source of years of egregious attacks on many Americans’ religious and moral beliefs. The mandate was issued as part of the women’s preventive services guidelines, which were issued without any rulemaking that involved public notice and an opportunity to comment. Instead, HRSA issued and changed the mandate by simply posting changes to its website. HRSA also started off not requiring coverage of fertility awareness–based methods of family planning, then requiring them, and then removing the requirement without notifying the public. A federal judge recently ruled that this failure to undergo notice and comment in issuing the mandate is unlawful. HRSA should be required to repromulgate any women’s preventive services mandates through the notice and comment process that is compliant with the Administrative Procedures Act. Moreover, since the Obama Administration HRSA entered into long- term contracts with the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and related entities to serve as an exclusive adviser with respect to the content of this mandate, HRSA has used this arrangement to ignore comments that members of the public were sometimes able to submit in the process, and ACOG has abused its position to attack HHS’s allowance of religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate. HHS should rescind these contracts and establish an advisory committee that is compliant with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and has members that are committed to women’s preventive services and are not pro-abortion ideologues. l Expand inclusion of fertility awareness–based methods and supplies to family planning in the women’s preventive services mandate. The ACA requires coverage of and prevents insurance plans from imposing any cost-sharing requirements on women who obtain preventive care and screenings as defined by HRSA. In 2016, HHS included “instruction in fertility awareness-based methods” as part of this requirement. However, in December 2021, HHS removed that language from its list without using the notice-and-comment process or giving any rationale, both of which are mandated by the Administrative Procedures Act. In August

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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