The House on Wednesday approved a controversial bill that would shield healthcare providers from penalties for refusing to perform abortions on religious grounds, according to The Hill.
Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) is the chief sponsor of the bill, which passed in a vote of 245-182.
Supporters of the bill say the measure would make it clear that healthcare providers have a "right of conscience" that allows them to fight alleged discrimination, such as the withholding of funds for not performing the procedure, according to the report.
The bill stems from a recent California policy that requires health plans to cover elective abortions.
"It literally started forcing people for performing abortions against their own faith," House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said Wednesday, according to the report.
Democrats denounced the new bill, calling it "unnecessary" and a "destructive" attack against women's right to abortion in the U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) argued the bill would allow physicians to withhold medical information if they believe it would lead a woman to seek an abortion.