sossamon texas et argued november decided april held religious freedom restoration act unconstitutional applied state local governments exceeded congress power fourteenth amendment see city boerne flores congress passed religious land use institutionalized persons act rluipa pursuant spending clause commerce clause authority rluipa targets two areas state local action regulation rluipa restrictions religious exercise institutionalized persons rluipa also provides express private cause action appropriate relief government including inter alia instrumentalities officers persons acting color state law petitioner sossamon texas prison inmate sued respondents state prison officials seeking injunctive monetary relief rluipa prison policies prevented inmates attending religious services cell restriction disciplinary infractions barred use prison chapel religious worship granting respondents summary judgment district held sovereign immunity barred sossamon claims monetary relief fifth circuit affirmed holding statutory phrase appropriate relief government unambiguously notify texas acceptance federal funds conditioned waiver sovereign immunity claims monetary relief held accepting federal funding consent waive sovereign immunity private suits money damages rluipa pp sovereign immunity principles enforce important constitutional limitation power federal courts see pennhurst state school hospital halderman consistently made clear federal jurisdiction suits unconsenting contemplated constitution establishing judicial power seminole tribe florida state however may choose waive immunity clark barnard determining whether done stringent one college savings bank florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense state consent suit must unequivocally expressed relevant statute text pennhurst supra waiver strictly construed terms scope favor sovereign lane pe pp rluipa authorization appropriate relief government unequivocal expression state consent pp appropriate relief ambiguous relief includes appropriate inherently context defendant sovereign suggests anything monetary damages suitable proper see federal maritime south carolina ports authority statute susceptible multiple plausible interpretations including one preserving immunity consider state waived sovereign immunity sossamon texas conflicting plausible arguments whether immunity preserved demonstrate appropriate relief rluipa free ambiguity may conclude receiving federal funds unequivocally expressed intent waive immunity pp use phrase appropriate relief franklin gwinnett county public schools barnes gorman compel contrary conclusion cases express congressional intent limit remedies available municipal entities implied right action presumed compensatory damages available franklin supra presumption irrelevant construing scope express waiver sovereign immunity question whether congress given clear direction intends exclude damages remedy whether given clear direction intends include damages remedy pp sossamon mistakenly contends congress enactment rluipa pursuant spending clause put notice liable damages spending clause legislation operates contract damages always available breach contract acknowledging analogy clear imply suits spending clause legislation suits contract principles apply issues raise barnes supra rely analogy expand liability beyond exist nonspending statutes much less extend monetary liability applying ordinary contract principles also make little sense contracts sovereign unique traditionally confer right action damages enforce compliance fundamentally sossamon remedy squared rule sovereign immunity waiver must expressly unequivocally stated relevant statute text pp sossamon also errs arguing texas put notice sued damages rluipa rehabilitation act amendments expressly waives state sovereign immunity violations section rehabilitation act title ix education amendments age discrimination act title vi civil rights act provisions federal statute prohibiting discrimination recipients federal financial assistance even residual clause constitute unequivocal textual waiver rluipa prohibits substantial burden religious exercise unequivocally statute prohibiting discrimination within meaning statutory provisions enumerated explicitly prohibit discrimination state might reasonably conclude residual clause strictly construed covers provisions using term discrimination pp affirmed thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy ginsburg alito joined sotomayor filed dissenting opinion breyer joined kagan took part consideration decision case harvey leroy sossamon iii petitioner texas et al writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit april justice thomas delivered opinion case presents question whether accepting federal funds consent waive sovereign immunity suits money damages religious land use institutionalized persons act rluipa stat et seq hold sovereign immunity therefore bars suit damages state texas rluipa congress second attempt accord heightened statutory protection religious exercise wake decision employment division department human resources oregon smith congress first enacted religious freedom restoration act rfra stat et intended restore compelling interest test set forth sherbert verner wisconsin yoder cases free exercise religion substantially burdened see generally gonzales centro espĂ­rita beneficente uni vegetal held rfra unconstitutional applied state local governments exceeded congress power fourteenth amendment see city boerne flores congress responded enacting rluipa pursuant spending clause commerce clause authority rluipa borrows important elements rfra continues apply federal government rluipa less sweeping scope see cutter wilkinson targets two areas state local action regulation rluipa restrictions religious exercise institutionalized persons rluipa section rluipa provides government shall impose substantial burden religious exercise institutionalized person unless rfra government demonstrates burden furtherance compelling governmental interest least restrictive means furthering interest cf relevant applies case substantial burden imposed program activity receives federal financial assistance rluipa also includes express private cause action taken rfra person may assert violation rluipa claim defense judicial proceeding obtain appropriate relief government cf purposes provision government includes inter alia counties municipalities instrumentalities officers persons acting color state law petitioner harvey leroy sossamon iii inmate robertson unit texas department criminal justice correctional institutions division sossamon sued state texas various prison officials official capacities rluipa private cause action seeking injunctive monetary relief sossamon alleged two prison policies violated rluipa policy preventing inmates attending religious services cell restriction disciplinary infractions policy barring use prison chapel religious worship district granted summary judgment favor respondents held relevant sovereign immunity barred sossamon claims monetary see supp wd tex appeals fifth circuit affirmed acknowledging congress enacted rluipa pursuant spending clause determined texas waived sovereign immunity accepting federal funds appeals strictly construed text rluipa cause action favor state concluded statutory phrase appropriate relief government unambiguously notif texas acceptance funds conditioned waiver immunity claims money damages granted certiorari resolve division authority among courts appeals ii dual sovereignty defining feature nation constitutional blueprint federal maritime south carolina ports authority upon ratification constitution entered union sovereignty intact ibid internal quotation marks omitted immunity private suits long considered central sovereign dignity alden maine widely understood time constitution drafted inherent nature sovereignty amenable suit individual without consent general sense general practice mankind exemption one attributes sovereignty enjoyed government every state union federalist wright ed hamilton indeed threatened state immunity private suits early nation history people responded swiftly reiterate fundamental principle see hans louisiana discussing chisholm georgia dall eleventh amendment sovereign immunity principles enforce important constitutional limitation power federal courts see pennhurst state school hospital halderman century consistently made clear federal jurisdiction suits unconsenting contemplated constitution establishing judicial power seminole tribe florida quoting hans supra see seminole tribe supra collecting cases state however may choose waive immunity federal pleasure clark barnard accordingly test determining whether state waived immunity jurisdiction stringent one college savings bank florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense internal quotation marks omitted state consent suit must unequivocally expressed text relevant statute pennhurst state school hospital supra see atascadero state hospital scanlon requiring clear declaration state certain state fact consents suit college savings bank waiver may implied reasons waiver sovereign immunity strictly construed terms scope favor sovereign lane pe example state consent suit courts waiver immunity suit federal college savings bank supra similarly waiver sovereign immunity types relief waive immunity damages waiver sovereign immunity must extend unambiguously monetary claims lane supra cf nordic village construing ambiguous waiver sovereign immunity permit equitable monetary claims hoffman connecticut dept income maintenance construing statute authorize injunctive relief monetary recovery intent abrogate immunity monetary recovery clear language quoting atascadero supra iii rluipa authorization appropriate relief government unequivocal expression state consent precedents require appropriate relief clearly unambiguously waive sovereign immunity private suits damages certain state fact consents suit college savings bank appropriate relief ambiguous types relief includes many lower courts recognized see far clearly identifying money damages word appropriate inherently see webster third new international dictionary defining appropriate specially suitable fit proper context defendant sovereign suggests anything monetary damages suitable proper see federal maritime tate sovereign immunity serves important function shielding state treasuries indeed dissent appeared agree west gibson appropriate relief unambiguously include damages sovereign question whether equal employment opportunity commission authority enforce title vii civil rights act federal government appropriate remedies require federal government pay damages dissent argued phrase appropriate remedies authorize damages express unequivocal terms gibson opinion kennedy apparently disagree reasoned appropriate remedies flexible meaning expanded include money damages related statute amended explicitly allow damages actions title vii see statute susceptible multiple plausible interpretations including one preserving immunity consider state waived sovereign immunity see dellmuth muth holding permissible inference necessary unequivocal declaration intended subject damages actions nordic village supra holding existence plausible interpretations permit recovery enough establish reading imposing monetary liability government therefore adopted case sossamon argues rluipa expressly limits injunctive declaratory relief enforce statute phrase appropriate private cause action necessarily must broader texas responds state immunity defense suit brought federal government congress needed exclude damages affirmatively context context private suits private cause action provides person may assert violation statute claim defense emphasis added injunction declaratory judgment appropriate relief successful defense texas explains explicitly limiting private cause action forms relief make sense sossamon also emphasizes statute requires construed favor broad protection religious exercise texas responds provision best read addressing substantive standards statute scope appropriate relief texas also highlights congress choice word relief argues primarily connotes equitable relief see black law dictionary ed defining relief redress benefit esp equitable nature party asks plausible arguments demonstrate phrase appropriate relief rluipa free ambiguity may conclude receiving federal funds unequivocally expressed intent waive sovereign immunity suits damages strictly construing phrase favor sovereign must see lane conclude include suits damages state use phrase appropriate relief franklin gwinnett county public schools barnes gorman compel contrary conclusion cases addressed remedies available municipal entities implied right action enforce title ix education amendments americans disabilities act rehabilitation act statutory text interpret presume availability appropriate remedies unless congress ha expressly indicated otherwise franklin described presumption general rule federal courts power award appropriate relief cognizable cause action brought pursuant federal statute emphasis added see barnes supra quoting franklin supra finding express congressional intent limit remedies available implied right action held compensatory damages available franklin supra presumption franklin barnes irrelevant construing scope express waiver sovereign immunity see lane supra eliance franklin misplaced determining whether damages available federal government question whether congress given clear direction intends exclude damages remedy see franklin supra whether congress given clear direction intends include damages remedy text must establish unambiguously waiver extends monetary claims nordic village franklin barnes congressional silence entirely different implication whatever appropriate relief might meant cases translate sossamon contends congress enacted rluipa pursuant spending clause necessarily notice liable damages argues spending clause legislation operates contract damages always available relief breach contract whether contract explicitly includes damages remedy relying barnes franklin asserts recipients federal funding notice subject remedies traditionally available suits breach contract including compensatory damages brief petitioner quoting barnes acknowledged analogy clear imply suits spending clause legislation suits contract principles apply issues raise barnes supra relied spending clause contract analogy expand liability beyond exist statutes much less extend monetary liability sossamon us fact barnes franklin discussed spending clause context potential limitation liability see barnes supra franklin supra event applying ordinary contract principles make little sense contracts sovereign unique traditionally confer right action damages enforce compliance contracts nation individual binding conscience sovereign pretensions compulsive force confer right action independent sovereign lynch quoting federalist hamilton fundamentally sossamon proposal squared longstanding rule waiver sovereign immunity must expressly unequivocally stated text relevant statute bizarre create unequivocal statement rule find every spending clause enactment matter text satisfies rule includes unexpressed implied remedies requirement clear statement text statute ensures congress specifically considered state sovereign immunity intentionally legislated matter cf spector norwegian cruise line plurality opinion lear statement rules ensure congress broad general language legislate sensitive topic inadvertently without due deliberation without clear statement congress notice federal courts may step abrogate state sovereign iv sossamon also argues rehabilitation act amendments independently put state notice sued damages rluipa provision expressly waives state sovereign immunity violations section rehabilitation act title ix education amendments age discrimination act title vi civil rights act provisions federal statute prohibiting discrimination recipients federal financial assistance emphasis added section makes remedies including remedies law equity available violation extent remedies available violation suit public private entity state sossamon contends rluipa falls within residual clause therefore waives texas sovereign immunity rluipa suits damages even assuming residual clause like one constitute unequivocal textual waiver unequivocally statute prohibiting discrimination within meaning text prohibit discrimination rather prohibits substantial burden religious exercise distinction especially conspicuous light rluipa congress expressly prohibited land use regulation discriminat basis religion waiver sovereign immunity must strictly construed terms scope favor sovereign lane say residual clause clearly extends state might reasonably conclude clause covers provisions using term discrimination statutory provisions specifically listed confirm unequivocally come within scope residual clause eneral words residual clause construed embrace objects similar nature objects enumerated preceding specific words washington state dept social health servs guardianship estate keffeler internal quotation marks omitted see also jarecki searle noting maxim often wisely applied word capable many meanings order avoid giving unintended breadth acts congress unlike statutes specifically enumerated explicitly prohibits discrimination see conclude accepting federal funding consent waive sovereign immunity private suits money damages rluipa statute expressly unequivocally includes waiver judgment appeals fifth circuit affirmed ordered justice kagan took part consideration decision case harvey leroy sossamon iii petitioner texas et al writ certiorari appeals fifth circuit april justice sotomayor justice breyer joins dissenting holds term appropriate relief ambiguous provide clear notice liable monetary damages religious land use institutionalized persons act rluipa stat et seq one disputes accepting federal funds consent suit violations rluipa substantive provisions question relief available plaintiffs asserting injury violations monetary damages appropriate relief view general remedies principles usual remedy violation legal right damages consistent principles precedents make clear phrase appropriate relief includes monetary relief adopting contrary reading term majority severely undermines broad protection religious exercise congress intended statute provide reasons respectfully dissent acknowledges proposition may waive sovereign immunity unremarkable one seminole tribe florida see also alden maine questioned general proposition state may waive sovereign immunity consent suit atascadero state hospital scanlon noting state waives immunity consents suit federal eleventh amendment bar action petty bridge noting state may waive sovereign immunity pleasure neither majority respondents hereinafter texas dispute pursuant power spending clause art cl congress may secure state consent suit condition state receipt federal see college savings bank florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense congress may exercise spending power condition grant funds upon taking certain actions congress require take acceptance funds entails agreement actions atascadero suggesting federal statute condition participation programs funded statute state consent waive constitutional immunity waivers sovereign immunity question whether state unequivocally consented suit federal see college savings bank atascadero thus order attach waiver sovereign immunity federal funds congress must unambiguously enable exercise choice knowingly pennhurst state school hospital halderman words state must notice condition accepting see arlington central school dist bd ed murphy lear notice required spending clause reason requiring notice simple knowingly accept conditions ascertain quoting pennhurst assessing whether federal statute provides clear notice conditions attached must view statute perspective state official engaged process deciding whether state accept federal funds obligations go funds arlington central also dispute rluipa clearly conditions state receipt federal funding consent suit violations statute substantive provisions statute program activit ies receiv federal financial assistance may impose substantial burden religious exercise person residing confined institution burden imposed victim may assert violation rluipa claim judicial proceeding obtain appropriate relief government statute defines relevant state county municipality governmental entity created authority state accordingly evident texas notice accepting federal funds waived sovereign immunity suit institutionalized persons upon imposed unlawful substantial burden see madison virginia face rluipa creates private cause action state virginia heard claim unaware condition citations omitted benning georgia congress unambiguously required waive sovereign immunity suits filed prisoners enforce rluipa holds phrase appropriate relief provide state officials clear notice monetary relief available meaning waived immunity respect particular type liability holding contrary general remedies principles precedents rluipa straightforwardly provides private right action obtain appropriate relief government traditional approach deciding remedies available violation federal right damages default equitable relief exception axiomatic determine adequacy remedy law resorting equitable relief franklin gwinnett county public schools see also weinberger repeatedly held basis injunctive relief federal courts always inadequacy legal remedies bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents historically damages regarded ordinary remedy invasion personal interests liberty cf monsanto geertson seed farms slip injunction drastic extraordinary remedy granted matter course unsurprising therefore one occasion congress felt necessary clarify text statute meant terms relief appropriate relief exclude damages see providing administrative procedure act relief money damages available federal agency remedy legal wrong see also providing cause action appropriate relief specifying othing subsection shall authorize person recover damages similar despite clarity background principle state officials reading rluipa somehow still uncertain whether phrase appropriate relief encompasses monetary damages precedents relieve doubt franklin made clear absent clear direction contrary congress federal statutes providing private right action authorize appropriate relief including damages violators substantive terms reiterated principle barnes gorman affirming scope includes compensatory holdings cases fully consistent general principle monetary relief available violations substantive conditions congress attaches spending clause legislation acceptance federal funding see davis monroe county bd ursuant congress authority spending clause private damages actions available gebser lago vista independent school noting hen congress attaches conditions award federal funds spending power private actions holding recipient liable monetary damages permissible odd derogation normal rules statutory construction state officials reading rluipa assume congress drafted statute ignorance unambiguous precedents see merck reynolds slip normally assume congress enacts statutes aware relevant judicial precedent accordingly difficult understand basis position phrase appropriate relief fails provide state officials clear notice waiving sovereign immunity monetary relief condition accepting federal funds arguing waiver sovereign immunity types relief waive immunity damages ante emphasis added majority appears accept equitable relief available rluipa plaintiffs see madison holding rluipa plaintiff claims equitable relief barred eleventh amendment cf reversing district grant summary judgment texas one petitioner rluipa claims declaratory injunctive relief explanation majority implicit acceptance suits injunctive declaratory relief obvious enough particularly curious reading statute conclude congress express provision private right action seek appropriate relief state nonetheless left plaintiffs suing state violations rluipa available relief apparent however phrase appropriate relief ambiguous secure waiver state sovereign immunity respect damages clear enough injunctive forms equitable relief majority appears believe equitable relief suitable proper remedy state violation rluipa substantive provisions monetary relief therefore state official reading ambiguous phrase appropriate relief unaware includes damages fully apprised makes equitable relief available see ante sovereign immunity simply defense certain classes remedies defense sued see federal maritime south carolina ports authority result inherent reason phrase appropriate relief provide adequate notice equitable remedies monetary ones fact discussed earlier light general remedies principles presumption arguably reverse see supra majority suggests equitable relief sole appropriate relief statutory violations defendant sovereign ante little doubt however appropriateness relief afforded civil plaintiff generally determined nature injury legal rights see franklin concluding monetary damages appropriate equitable relief offered redress injury suffered see also milliken bradley nature remedy determined nature scope violation bell hood federally protected rights invaded rule beginning courts alert adjust remedies grant necessary relief support proposition majority cites case expressly rejected argument state sovereign immunity operates differently according type relief sought see federal maritime overeign immunity applies regardless whether private plaintiff suit monetary damages type relief cf primary function sovereign immunity protect state treasuries afford dignity respect due sovereign entities citation omitted basis majority view apparent cases majority additional arguments support holding also fail persuade majority contends use word like appropriate necessarily renders provision ambiguous ante fact precise relief afforded may vary depending particular injury addressed given case render ambiguous simply means congress meant provision comprehensive see pennsylvania dept corrections yeskey fact statute applied situations expressly congress demonstrate ambiguity demonstrates breadth internal quotation marks omitted cf west gibson holding phrase appropriate remedies includes remedies expressly enumerated next majority repeats texas contention using word relief congress meant connot equitable relief ante proposition suffers three flaws first established dictionary majority cites see black law dictionary ed relief also termed remedy remedy means enforcing right preventing redressing wrong legal equitable relief emphasis added second inconsistent precedent see barnes noting appropriate relief includes monetary injunctive relief third undermined fact numerous occasions congress deemed necessary specify relief includes injunctive equitable relief see authorizing attorney general commence civil action appropriate relief including permanent temporary injunction see also term relief already connotes equitable relief equitable relief additional explication redundant finally majority asserts parties case advance opposing plausible arguments regarding correct interpretation rluipa text must conclude statute ambiguous ante view adjudicate cases incorrect descriptive matter see carcieri salazar reviewing parties conflicting textual interpretations statute concluding unambiguous nonetheless moreover agree majority capacity interpret authoritatively text federal statute held hostage litigants strategic arguments true cases able decide statute unambiguous sum majority conclusion accepting federal funds consented suit monetary relief reconciled fact availability relief evident light rluipa plain terms principles animating relevant precedents holding majority discovers ambiguity none found ii another reason question soundness today decision reading severely undermines congress unmistakably stated intent passing statute afford broad protection religious exercise maximum extent permitted terms statute constitution find improbable light express statutory purpose history congressional efforts accord religious exercise heightened protection burdens cutter wilkinson state officials read rluipa relief provision limited manner majority majority acknowledges rluipa congress second attempt guarantee statute broad protection religious exercise found unwarranted constitutional matter employment dept human resources smith previously recognized passing rluipa congress clearly concerned state institutions regularly imposed frivolous arbitrary barriers imped ing institutionalized persons religious exercise cutter internal quotation marks omitted see also cong rec joint statement hatch kennedy rluipa whether indifference ignorance bigotry lack resources institutions restrict religious liberty egregious unnecessary ways ibid institutional residents rights practice faith mercy running institution difficult believe congress devoted care effort establishing significant statutory protections religious exercise specifically extended protections persons state institutions yet withheld plaintiffs crucial tool securing rights statute guarantees depriving prisoners damages remedy violations statutory rights majority ensures plaintiffs suing state defendants rluipa forced seek enforcement rights one hand tied behind backs obviously majority categorical denial monetary relief means plaintiff prevails merits claim state substantially burdened religious exercise often denied redress injury suffered many instances prospective relief accords remedy franklin see pt report committee judiciary civil rights act limitation relief title vii equitable remedies often means victims may recover real effects statutory violation injunctive relief federal may address violation going forward fact cold comfort victims serious violations equitable relief may inappropriate addition unavailability monetary relief effectively shield unlawful policies practices judicial review many cases state law discretion transfer prisoners wide variety circumstances vested prison officials meachum fano number rluipa suits seeking injunctive relief dismissed moot plaintiff transferred institution alleged violation took place prior adjudication merits see colvin caruso simmons herrera jsw pr wl nd mar see generally brief american civil liberties union et al amici curiae absent damages remedy longstanding rluipa challenges may well dismissed lack case controversy conferring article iii jurisdiction federal cf moussazadeh texas dept crim justice civ action wl sd mar dismissing moot plaintiff rluipa claim transferred facility provided kosher food remanded fed appx opening brief moussazadeh texas dept crim justice noting transfer special facility took place months plaintiff filed suit discovery stayed months negotiation scheduled recommence happened case officials may change policy litigation pending fact voluntary cessation may allow claims go forward many nonetheless dismissed moot happened case course rule majority announces congress revise rluipa provide specifically monetary relief perhaps inserting phrase including monetary relief text never demanded waiver presented particular formulation effective require clear see edelman jordan holding waiver may found express language overwhelming implications text internal quotation marks omitted holding contrary majority erects formalistic barrier vindication statutory rights deliberately provided congress problematically apparent reason term appropriate relief sufficiently clear equitable relief monetary relief left real possibility order secure waiver immunity majority new rule congress must itemize statutory text every type relief meant available sovereign defendants one relish prospect federal courts presented endless state challenges manner federal statutes ground congress failed predict laundry list terms must included waive sovereign immunity forms relief avoid problems majority decision invites hold instead case general statutory term like appropriate relief used clear provided state acceptance federal funds constitutes waiver sovereign immunity relief equitable monetary explained nothing precedent demands result majority reaches today conclusion rluipa fails provide sufficient notice liable monetary relief squared straightforward terms statute general principles evident prior cases reasons majority decision significantly undermines congress ability provide needed redress violations individuals rights federal law respectfully dissent footnotes party contends commerce clause permitted congress address alleged burden religious exercise issue case see congress authority enact rluipa spending clause challenged therefore address issues district also denied injunctive relief supp wd tex appeals subsequently held sossamon claim injunctive relief respect policy moot state abandoned policy sossamon filed prison grievance appeals reversed district respect sossamon policy claim although robertson unit later amended policy also permits inmates attend scheduled worship services chapel subject certain safety precautions compare madison virginia case cardinal metrish nelson miller van wyhe reisch holley california dept corrections smith allen citing benning georgia although lane concerned federal government strict construction principle flows logically requirement consent unequivocally expressed applies sovereign immunity well cf nordic village equating unequivocal expression principle eleventh amendment context principle applicable federal sovereign immunity college savings bank florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense noting clos analogy federal state sovereign immunity belknap schild state exempt private suit see also holley supra nelson supra van wyhe supra cardinal supra madison supra cf webman federal bur prisons cadc interpreting appropriate relief provision rfra said use phrase appropriate relief franklin barnes somehow put notice phrase rluipa subjected suits monetary relief cases involve sovereign defendants occasion consider sovereign immunity liability nonsovereigns put notice liable manner absent unequivocal textual waiver moreover phrase rfra interpreted include damages relief federal government signaled damages appropriate relief rluipa see tinsley pittari supp nd tex commack kosher meats new york supp edny course federal government statute waived sovereign immunity damages breach contract certain contexts see dissent finds decision difficult understand post opinion sotomayor follows naturally precedents regarding waiver sovereign immunity dissent gives astonishingly short shrift dissent instead concerns primarily general remedies principles post essence sovereign immunity however remedies government differ general remedies principles applicable private litigants see lane pe calling crucial point comes award money damages sovereign immunity places government entirely different footing private parties every appeals consider question held see holley van wyhe madison sossamon argues resembles rehabilitation act one statutes listed require special accommodations particular people activities sossamon reasoning every spending clause statute arguably provides benefit class people activities become federal statute prohibiting discrimination thereby waiving sovereign immunity interpretation squared foundational rule waiver sovereign immunity must unequivocally expressed strictly construed footnotes though reserves general question whether rluipa valid exercise congress power spending clause see ante apparently disagreement among federal courts appeals see every circuit consider whether rluipa spending clause legislation concluded constitutional least power majority suggests use phrase appropriate relief franklin barnes put notice phrase rluipa subjected suits monetary relief hose cases involve sovereign defendants ante majority misperceives point franklin barnes simply confirmed otherwise already apparent informed reader rluipa comes remedying injuries legal rights monetary damages appropriate relief moreover noted text see supra administrative procedure act expressly excludes money damages relief available suggesting congress understands term normally encompass monetary relief even defendant enjoys sovereign immunity see bowen massachusetts noting waives sovereign immunity suit curiously majority appears believe state officials read statutory phrase appropriate relief without reference general remedies principles see ante however congress understood legislate background principles astoria fed sav loan assn solimino doubt general legal principles necessarily inform judicial determinations remedies available civil plaintiffs see atlantic sounding townsend slip concluding light general principles maritime tort law punitive damages remedy available plaintiff internal quotation marks omitted texas sovereign immunity defense renders approach improper mystery majority opinion leaves unsolved lane pe nordic village hoffman connecticut dept income maintenance simply reaffirmed principle sovereign liability damages must unambiguously expressed statute purporting waive immunity demonstrated rluipa satisfies requirement majority tellingly relies dissent assertion west gibson phrase appropriate remedies ambiguous waive sovereign immunity monetary relief see opinion kennedy accordingly cases majority cites mandate conclusion draws today agree majority conclusion section rluipa addressing rights institutionalized persons provisio federal statute prohibiting discrimination within meaning rehabilitation act amendments latter statute waiver provision put notice sued damages rluipa see ante bears noting however section rluipa explicitly prohibits discrimination land use regulation see government shall impose implement land use regulation discriminates basis religion religious denomination result majority decision case means rluipa plaintiffs able seek monetary damages state others even though rluipa provision appropriate relief applies equally suits violations terms section section see parents involved community schools seattle school dist voluntary cessation moot case controversy unless subsequent events make absolutely clear allegedly wrongful behavior reasonably expected recur internal quotation marks alterations omitted fifth circuit declined apply voluntary cessation doctrine case instead granted texas motion dismiss moot petitioner claim injunctive relief respect prison policy prison director averred policy longer force absent evidence voluntary wa sham held good faith nature texas change policy rendered moot petitioner claim injunctive relief see see also nelson miller affirming district dismissal moot rluipa claim evidence prison intended revoke plaintiff religious diet el evans supp sd 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