[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14496]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 THE AFFIRMING RELIGIOUS HERITAGE AND FREEDOM IN THE UNITED STATES ACT

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                        HON. STEPHEN LEE FINCHER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2012

  Mr. FINCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Affirming 
Religious Heritage and Freedom in the United States Act. This 
legislation is a simple statement recognizing the importance of 
religion in the lives of our nation's citizens, the strong role of 
Judeo-Christian heritage in the development of our nation, and the 
freedom for all to exercise their religious beliefs in our nation.
  Our nation's history is storied with references to religious beliefs 
and symbols that mark their importance in the development of our 
nation. Those religious beliefs often inspired our nation's founding 
fathers, as well as presidents and lawmakers throughout our history, to 
stand firm in their conviction that this should be a nation of freedom, 
including freedom of religion.
  Recently, we've heard more and more negative news stories about 
religion in our nation. I ask, what is wrong with faith and exercising 
your religious beliefs? When did religion become such a bad thing that 
people want to delete it from our nation's history? I am discouraged 
when I see anti-religion groups forming throughout the nation, working 
hard to remove any mention or symbol of God or religion in our public 
spaces and resources. These groups claim their work is about the 
separation of church and state, but the government is not forcing 
anyone into religion or to pay tithes to any particular religious 
establishment. Religion, specifically the Judeo-Christian religion, is 
just simply part of our heritage, and the Constitution says this is a 
nation with freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
  I introduced this resolution because we are a nation of people with 
the right to freely exercise our religion and many in our nation are 
religious. A 2007 PEW survey shows that 92 percent of Americans believe 
in God. I also introduced this resolution because I believe the 
religious beliefs of Americans inspire them to do good for others, not 
harm. For instance, in 2010, $298.42 billion of charitable 
contributions were made in the United States and 32 percent, or $95.88 
billion, went to religious organizations according to the National Park 
Service. From September 2010 to September 2011, 64.3 million people in 
the United States volunteered and 33.2 percent did so for religious 
organizations, the highest percentage of all volunteer categories 
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  The freedom to exercise religious beliefs is vital to our nation's 
citizens and an important part of our heritage. That's why I am honored 
to introduce the Affirming Religious Heritage and Freedom in the United 
States Act.

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