[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 8, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTACK ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND RELIGIOUS 
                                FREEDOM

  (Mr. RIGELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. RIGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong objection to the 
President's decision requiring employers to provide insurance coverage 
for services which clearly violate their religious convictions. Many 
American employers are deeply offended and strenuously object to being 
forced by the administration to pay for contraceptives, sterilization 
and abortion-inducing drugs for their employees.
  This is an egregious violation of the First Amendment, which protects 
religious freedom. Preventing government intrusion into the faith and 
religious convictions of Americans is precisely why our Founders 
embedded religious freedom into the First Amendment.
  This is not a slight to the Constitution; it is an assault. The White 
House has said that adequate exemptions have been made, but this is 
simply not so.
  I stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both 
Houses of Congress in defending the right of conscience, our 
Constitution, and the right of all Americans to exercise their 
religious beliefs freely without intrusion from the Federal Government.
  I call on the administration to reverse its decision today.

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