[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HOUSE WILL ACT TO REVERSE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTACK ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

  (Mr. BOEHNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BOEHNER. My colleagues, in recent days, Americans of every faith 
and political persuasion have mobilized in objection to a rule put 
forward by the Obama administration that constitutes an unambiguous 
attack on religious freedom in our country.
  This rule would require faith-based employers, including Catholic 
charities, schools, universities, and hospitals, to provide services 
they believe are immoral. Those services include sterilization, 
abortion-inducing drugs and devices, and contraception.
  In imposing this requirement, the Federal Government has drifted 
dangerously beyond its constitutional boundaries, encroaching on 
religious freedom in a manner that affects millions of Americans and 
harms some of our Nation's most vital institutions.
  If the President does not reverse the Department's attack on 
religious freedom, then the Congress, acting on behalf of the American 
people and the Constitution that we are sworn to uphold and defend, 
must.
  The House will approach this matter fairly and deliberately through 
regular order and appropriate legislative channels. Because it has 
primary jurisdiction on the issues involved, the Energy and Commerce 
Committee is taking the lead on the legislative process that will be 
necessary to enact an effective and appropriate solution. Chairman 
Upton convened a hearing late last year and began laying the groundwork 
for legislative action when this flawed rule was first proposed, and I 
welcome his efforts to consider all possible options as his committee 
proceeds with its efforts.
  This attack by the Federal Government on religious freedom in our 
country must not stand and will not stand.

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