[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 1607-1608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION AND OBAMACARE

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, despite the Obama administration's recent 
actions to disguise their attempt to force contraceptive coverage on 
religious institutions, the American people will not be fooled.
  The Obama administration has gone out of its way to impose its 
radical agenda on Americans. While some religious exemptions exist for 
churches, affiliated institutions such as religious

[[Page 1608]]

hospitals or schools would not be exempt from this overreaching 
mandate. In fact, New York Bishop Timothy Dolan summed it up when he 
said:

       Never before has the Federal Government forced individuals 
     and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a 
     product that violates their own conscience. This shouldn't 
     happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first 
     in the Bill of Rights.

  This administration has shown no restraint in expanding the size, 
scope, and power of the Federal Government. We must repeal this law and 
restore religious freedom to religiously affiliated institutions in 
this country.

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