[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  FUNDING FOR FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Keller). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I stand here in support of faith-based 
entities who have long worked to address social ills. In fact, we just 
recently, earlier this week, paid a tribute to the efforts of these 
entities and encouraged private corporations to contribute to their 
worthwhile efforts.
  This Congress will also likely consider proposals aimed at providing 
government funding to faith-based entities, Charitable Choice. However, 
I have grave concerns with those proposals and believe that before 
adopting them, they merit serious examination to ensure that they do 
not work to dilute our Nation's constitutional principles and civil 
rights law.
  First, are we prepared to modify our constitutional principle of 
separation of church and state to one promoting a church state?
  The First Amendment says Congress shall make no law respecting an 
establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 
This clause was intended to erect a wall of separation between church 
and state. In essence, our Nation has been successful in preventing the 
church from controlling the state and the state from controlling the 
religion.
  The current faith-based proposals threaten this very important 
principle. Which religious entities will qualify for the government 
funding? Will the more dominant or better financed faiths be awarded 
the grants? The government will be forced to choose one religion or 
denomination over the other.
  Once the entities accept government funding, they then must be held 
accountable for the use of these funds. As such, faith-based entities 
will open themselves up to government regulation. So we must ask 
ourselves, will groups forego the full expression of their religious 
beliefs, their independence and autonomy in exchange for money? Are we 
comfortable with our houses of worship becoming houses of 
investigation?
  Further, while the proposals state that government funds should not 
be used for worship or proselytization, meaningful safeguards to 
prevent such action are not included in the provisions. The consequence 
is the possibility of use of government funds to promote certain 
religious beliefs or a beneficiary of social programs being subject to 
religious influence that is not welcome.
  In addition to ensuring that faith-based initiatives do not threaten 
our Nation's constitutional principles, we must also guarantee that our 
citizens will remain protected under our civil rights laws. Religious 
institutions are currently exempted from the ban on religious 
discrimination and employment provided under Title VII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964. As such, if faith-based proposals do not include a 
repeal of this exemption, these institutions will be able to engage in 
government-funded employment discrimination.
  Allowing the exemption to be applied to hiring and staffing decisions 
by religious entities as they deliver critical services flies in the 
face of our Nation's long-standing principle that Federal funds may not 
be used in a discriminatory fashion.
  As I reflect on those who fought hard to secure civil rights for us 
all, and as one who has been a strong advocate myself, I cannot sit 
idly by and watch them be eroded. As such, I believe that any faith-
based proposals must include a repeal of the Title VII exemption.
  As we review faith-based proposals, it is important to note that 
under current law religious entities can seek government funding by 
establishing a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization. Such religiously-
affiliated organizations have successfully partnered with government 
and received government funding for years.
  I urge my colleagues to carefully examine these issues. As we 
continue to support faith-based entities and their good works, we must 
remember our duty to also protect the very foundation of this Nation, 
our Constitution and our civil rights laws. Let us stand against 
discrimination and stand up for religious tolerance and freedom.

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