[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1554-E1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            OPPOSING H.R. 7

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAX SANDLIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 7 in its 
current form. Churches and charitable organizations have always played 
an important role in our society. They operate food banks, provide 
services for victims of domestic violence, operate after school 
programs, and provide counseling services. Many of these organizations 
currently use federal grants or other sources of federal funds to 
operate these programs.
  Use of federal funds for these programs is allowed under current law. 
I believe faith based organizations should be able to work in 
partnership with the federal government to operate these programs as 
they currently do. Communities of faith in this country give of their 
time and money to help those who are less fortunate. We in the federal 
government can and should assist them in that mission when appropriate.
  While the motivation behind H.R. 7 is honorable in theory, the bill 
unfortunately has serious flaws. This bill would make it possible for 
religious groups to use taxpayer money to discriminate, not just on the 
basis of a prospective employee's religion, but also on the basis of 
his or her failure to practice that group's religious doctrine. No one 
should be required to be of a particular faith in order to obtain a 
federally funded job.
  Furthermore, the bill sets a dangerous precedent by allowing 
government agencies to convert funding for a program into vouchers to 
religious organizations. By providing such vouchers, the federal 
government would permit these organizations to use federal tax dollars 
for sectarian instruction, worship, and proselytization.
  In this country, we have a long history of supporting separation of 
church and state. We have a diverse religious make-up--something we 
celebrate, We must protect that diversity. By allowing religious 
institutions to receive federal funds without complying with federal 
laws, we discourage diversity.
  Mr. Speaker, a broad coalition of religious organizations, education 
organizations, and civil rights groups oppose H.R. 7 in its current 
form. These groups include the American Federation of Teachers, 
American Jewish Congress, the Baptist Joint Committee, the

[[Page E1555]]

NAACP, the National Education Association, the PTA, the Leadership 
Conference on Civil Rights, the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal 
Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Religious Action Center for Reform 
Judaism, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. When this many 
religious organizations are opposed to the bill, maybe we should ask 
ourselves what is wrong with the bill.

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