[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E4]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN THE WORKPLACE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 1998

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce H.R. 2948, 
legislation that restores real protections to the religious convictions 
of men and women in the workplace. The Workplace Religious Freedom Act 
(WRFA) would amend Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to require 
employers to make reasonable accommodation for an employee's religious 
observance or practice unless doing so would impose an undue hardship 
on the employer. Currently, the courts interpret Title VII to require 
reasonable accommodation of religious practices only where an employer 
would not ``bear more than a de minimis cost.''
  This bill is a companion to S. 1124, which was introduced by Senators 
John Kerry (D-MA) and Dan Coats (R-IN), with an ideologically diverse 
group of cosponsors.
  The version of the WRFA that I introduce today is intended to reflect 
my concern with the instances of employers unreasonably refusing to 
accommodate the religious needs of workers. This is not a common 
problem, but it is still a serious one. This bill is intended as a 
starting point, and I do not necessarily endorse all of its provisions. 
I wish to ensure that businesses are not unduly burdened, while 
ensuring that workers' rights are amply protected. I hope my 
introduction of this bill will foster a dialogue between the business 
and religious communities that achieves a bill acceptable to all.
  The bill is endorsed by a wide range of organizations including: 
American Jewish Committee, Baptist Joint Committee, Christian Legal 
Society, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Southern 
Baptist Convention, Traditional Values Coalition, Seventh-day 
Adventists, National Association of Evangelicals, National Council of 
the Churches of Christ, National Sikh Center, and Union of Orthodox 
Jewish Congregations. A complete list of the Coalition For Religious 
Freedom In The Workplace is attached for the record.
  I look forward to a healthy debate over this legislation and its 
ultimate passage in a form which fairly balances the legitimate needs 
of both employees and employers.

            Coalition for Religious Freedom in the Workplace

       Agudath Israel of America; American Jewish Committee; 
     American Jewish Congress; Americans for Democratic Action; 
     Anti-Defamation League; Baptist Joint Committee on Public 
     Affairs; Center for Jewish and Christian Values; Central 
     Conference of American Rabbis; Christian Legal Society; 
     Church of Scientology International; Council on Religious 
     Freedom; General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Guru 
     Gobind Singh Foundation; Hadassah-WZOA; International 
     Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists; and Jewish Council 
     for Public Affairs.
       National Association of Evangelicals; National Council of 
     the Churches of Christ in the USA; National Council of Jewish 
     Women; National Jewish Coalition; National Jewish Coalition; 
     National Jewish Democratic Council; National Sikh Center; 
     North American Council for Muslim Women; People for the 
     American Way; Presbyterian Church (USA), Washington Office; 
     Rabbinical Council of America; Southern Baptist Convention 
     Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Traditional Values 
     Coalition; Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Union of 
     Orthodox Jewish Congregations; United Church of Christ Office 
     for Church in Society; United Methodist Church General Board 
     on Church and Society; and United Synagogue of Conservative 
     Judaism.

     

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