Reps. Scott, Huffman, Raskin Applaud Biden’s Faith-Based Regulations and Champion Religious Liberty

04.24.24

Reps. Scott, Huffman, Raskin Applaud Biden's Faith-Based Regulations and Champion Religious Liberty

Lawmakers call on admin to rescind remaining Trump-Era discriminatory actions

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led their colleagues inapplauding the Biden administration for rescinding Donald Trump's discriminatory faith-based regulations and finalizing updated regulations to protect religious freedoms and other civil rights for all people participating in federally funded social services.

"When the government funds social service programs, it must protect religious freedom and make certain all people can get the help they need. No one should be forced to pass a religious litmus test to access federally funded employment opportunities or social services, such as food, housing, and job training," the members said in their letter. "We applaud the Biden administration for adopting a rule that refocuses on people in need."

The members also called on the administration to go further in preventing religious discrimination by also rescinding the remaining Department of Justice (DOJ) memoranda and opinions that license discrimination in the false name of religious freedom.

"While the finalized nine-agency rule replaces Trump administration policies that stripped away critical religious freedom protections, failing to also rescind the Sessions Memo and the OLC Memo undermines the administration's goals of upholding equal protection of the law, ensuring racial equity, supporting underserved communities, and combatting LGBTQ discrimination. We urge you to act expeditiously to rescind these flawed memoranda," the members said.

In addition to Rep. Scott, Huffman, and Raskin, the letter was signed by Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Sean Casten (IL-06), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Katie Porter (CA-47), and Delia Ramirez (IL-03).

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

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