HHS Mandate Timeline:

• August, 2011, Federal government issues a regulation requiring that all group health plans must cover “[FDA-]approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.” The mandate, a provision of the “Affordable Care Act,” would take effect August 1, 2012.
• November 10, 2011, Press Release, Belmont Abbey College Sues Federal Government (Becket Fund)
  
• December 21, 2011, Press Release, Colorado Christian University First Evangelical University to Fight Abortifacient Mandate (Becket Fund)
• January 20, 2012, Press Release, Obama Administration Refuses to Change Abortion-Drug Mandate
  
• January 31, 2012, Press Release, Senator Rubio introduces conscience rights bill
  
• February 6, 2012, Press Release, White House Makes False Claims about HHS Mandate
  
• February 9, 2012, Press Release, Becket Funds Files Lawsuit for Nun’s TV Network
  
• February 10, 2012, Press Release, Obama Administration Offers False “Compromise” on Abortion-Drug Mandate
  
• February 15, 2012, HHS Mandate, After “Compromise,” HHS Mandate Remains unchanged
  
• February 15, 2012, Press Release, UNACCEPTABLE: Diverse group of more than 300 academics and religious leaders call Obama’s HHS statement “Unacceptable”
  
• February 15, 2012, Press Release, Priest for Life Join Fight
• February 17, 2012, Press Release, Obama Administration Responds to Becket Fund Lawsuit: “Please Look the Other Way”
  
• February 18, 2012, Congressional Hearing, First Congressional Hearing on HHS Mandate, President Theirfelder Testifies (Belmont Abbey College)
  
• February 18, 2012, Press Release, Louisiana College joins fight (ADF)
  
• February 21, 2012, Press Release, Becket Fund Files on Behalf of Ave Maria University
  
• February 21, 2012, Press Release, Geneva College joins fight (ADF)
  
• February 23, 2012, Press Release, 7 states sue over mandate (Nebraska v. HHS)
  
• February 28, 2012, Press Release, Obama Administration Takes Another Pass on Defending HHS Mandate
  
• February 28, 2012, Congressional Hearing, Becket Fund Testifies before full House Judiciary Committee regarding constitutionality of the HHS Mandate
  
• February 28, 2012, Press Release, Administration seeks to dismiss Becket Fund’s CCU lawsuit
  
• March 15, 2012, Press Release, First for-profit client files, O’Brien v. HHS (ACLJ)
  
• March 16, 2012, Press Release, Administration Offers new details on “accommodation” and fails to satisfy religious groups (Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)
  
• March 22, 2012, Press Release, Alabama Joins Becket Fund’s Fight Against Unconstitutional HHS Mandate
  
• March 23, 2012, Media Advisory, Becket Fund co-host Religious Freedom Rallies nation-wide
  
• April 23, 2012, Press Release, Becket Fund Fires Back at Administration’s Attempt to Dismiss Lawsuit (BAC)
  
• April 26, 2012, Video, Sebelius admits before congress that she did not consult Supreme court decision on religious liberty when drafting the HHS mandate
  
• April 30, 2012, Press Release, Second Private Business Owner Sues, Newland v. Sebelius (ADF)
  
• May 7, 2012, Press Release, Legatus v. Sebelius (Thomas More Law Center)
• May 21, 2012, 11 Additional Lawsuits, representing 43 plaintiffs filed (Jones Day)

Additional Resources: Becket Fund’s HHS Mandate Challenge

FAQ

HHS Mandate (February 15, 2012)

• ”Accordingly, the amendment to the interim final rule with comment period amending 29 CFR 2590.715-2713(a)(1)(iv) which was published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 46621-46626 on August 3, 2011, is adopted as a final rule without change.” (Page 8730)

HHS Proposed Rulemaking (March 16, 2012)