SACRED Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 28, 2020

Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Discrimination Act or the SACRED Act

This bill makes a state or local jurisdiction that discriminates against religious individuals or religious institutions ineligible to receive or use funds allocated, appropriated, or authorized to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).

Specifically, a state or local jurisdiction violates this bill's prohibition if it (1) enforces, or announces the intent to enforce, any law, regulation, policy, order, proclamation, or decree related to COVID-19 that discriminates against religious individuals or religious institutions; or (2) provides, or shows an intention to provide, funds to a separate jurisdiction that is ineligible to receive or use those funds because the jurisdiction has committed a violation.

The Department of Justice shall determine whether a state or local jurisdiction is ineligible to receive or use such funds.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] · R–TX

Committees

Finance Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jul 28, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Jul 28, 2020
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jul 28, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 4537 · RECOVERY Act

Source last updated: Jan 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.4340 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.4340, 116th Congress: SACRED Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4340

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4340/BILLS-116s4340is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T03:34:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.4340 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.4340 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.4340, 116th Congress: SACRED Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4340

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4340/BILLS-116s4340is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T03:34:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4340 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.4340 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.4340, 116th Congress: SACRED Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4340

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4340/BILLS-116s4340is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T03:34:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4340 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.4340 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.4340, 116th Congress: SACRED Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4340

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-07-28.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4340/BILLS-116s4340is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-03T03:34:42Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.4340 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.