[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H1556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR V. BURWELL

  (Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today the High Court is 
considering the Little Sisters of the Poor v. Burwell, a most important 
case regarding religious liberty and the First Amendment.
  The Little Sisters of the Poor is a religious institution dedicated 
to assisting the elderly poor, but an unfair and unjust dilemma has 
been forced upon them. They must choose whether to violate their 
religious beliefs by complying with the HHS mandate or pay massive 
fines.
  The government cannot compel people to violate their conscience and 
their religious faith. But today we are watching the government force 
people to choose between their faith or a government decree. To place 
citizens of this country in this inescapable position is not only 
reprehensible, but also a direct violation of the Free Exercise Clause 
of the First Amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, I pray that the Court be granted the wisdom and 
discernment necessary to resolve this case in support of religious 
liberty and conscience rights. People must not be forced by the 
government to violate their faith.

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