Congressman Flood Introduces Bill to Prevent COVID-Era Religious Restrictions at Hospitals

July 24, 2026

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – This week, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood introduced the Protecting Access to Spiritual Treatment and Organized Religion (PASTOR) Act. The legislation ensures that patients are able to receive the spiritual care they request during times of crisis, serious illness, or at the end of life while hospitalized.

“During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we saw members of the clergy turned away from hospitals even when patients requested their presence,” said Congressman Flood. “This bill ensures that never happens again. If signed into law, it would codify CMS policy requiring hospitals to allow members of the clergy to provide spiritual care, so long as they comply with necessary protective measures.”

Inspired by a clergyman who raised concerns directly to Congressman Flood about access to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, this bill codifies the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) guidance requiring healthcare facilities to accommodate clergy visitation. Those protections were broadly waived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PASTOR Act ensures these protections remain in place and cannot be reversed by future administrations, public health emergencies, or regulatory changes.

A one-pager of the PASTOR Act can be found by clicking here.

Full text of the PASTOR Act can be found by clicking here.

Congressman Flood was interviewed by The Washington Times on this legislation, which can be found by clicking here.

Issues:What Rep. Flood is doing in Congress