PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

S. 1993: Patient Rights Act

Before you vote › Federal bills

S. 1993: Patient Rights Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-06-26 · Health · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-06-26 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Patient Rights Act

Plain summary

Patient Rights Act This bill prohibits the use of federal funds for health care services unless the entity receiving the funds certifies to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that the entity respects all human life. Specifically, the entity must ensure that health care practitioners employed by or affiliated with the entity (1) exercise the same degree of professional skill and diligence to preserve the life and health of any patient as a conscientious health care practitioner would render to a patient in a different state of functionality, including patients in specified categories (e.g., terminally ill patients, elderly patients, and the unborn); (2) do not intentionally end the life of, or otherwise harm, any patient; and (3) do not institute a do-not-resuscitate or similar order without obtaining specified informed consent. In addition, HHS must (1) establish a public database that indicates whether an entity is in compliance, and (2) periodically review entities to ensure compliance. The Department of Justice or a person adversely affected may bring a civil action for violations.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Patient Rights Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] reported raising $1.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-s1993 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116