With G-d's Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

WASHINGTON -- In response to political rhetoric vilifying select religious groups and increasingly hostile rhetoric toward religious freedom in the immigration system, a House delegation, including Reps. Don Beyer (VA),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Keith Ellison (MN), Joe Crowley (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), Mike Honda (CA), Betty McCollum (MN), André Carson (ID), introduced the Freedom of Religion Act today to prohibit the use of religious litmus tests as a means to ban immigrants, refugees, and international visitors trying to enter the United States.

“Our country is built on religious tolerance and the freedom to worship. When presidential candidates talk about closing our borders to people of a certain faith, they aren’t just being prejudiced – they’re being un-American. This bill will uphold our core values by guaranteeing that religion isn’t used to decide who can enter the country. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” It doesn’t say anything about a person’s faith,” said Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in Congress.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says that a religious based immigration or travel ban would hurt the United States and it's relationships abroad. They are claiming such a proposal would deny entry to world leaders, tourists, relatives of Americans, and scientific, business, and political leaders attending meetings in the United States.

"We thank the sponsors of this bill, as it restores balance to our national conversations about both religion and immigration," said Nihad Awad, national executive director of CAIR. "America must uphold its ideals of religious tolerance and welcoming the stranger, or else we face a diminishing role at the table of international leadership."

Members from the House Delegation voiced their reasons for sponsoring the new legislation.

“We cannot allow fear and paranoia to drive our public policy, especially when it comes to the defining values of our country,” said Rep. Beyer.  “Our Founding Fathers guaranteed religious freedom for all in the First Amendment to our Constitution.  People all around the world look to us as the standard for freedom, liberty, and tolerance.”

“This bill is about the very foundation our nation was built on, and that’s religious freedom,” said Rep. Crowley, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. “Unfortunately, the rhetoric we’ve heard over the past year or so has not only greatly affected our national discourse, it has fanned the flames of hate and hurt innocent families. I’m proud to join Congressman Beyer and my colleagues on this legislation - we must ensure that the United States will continue to remain a model for religious tolerance and freedom.”

“As a nation of immigrants, we should welcome all who come to this country regardless of their religion or ethnic background,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “It is outrageous that many in this country are fanning the flames of hatred and intolerance by pushing for a religious test to enter the country. I am proud to stand with my colleagues today in supporting this legislation that will ban any attempt to prevent people from entering this country based on their religion. We are one nation, and we will only rise above the hatred spouted by terrorists abroad by staying united here at home.” 

“I have been proud take our oath of office and promise to protect and defend the Constitution,” said Rep. Honda. “That Constitution makes it the mission of our nation to fully defend the right to freely practice religion. It is sad that, based on our current politics, that mission must be written into a new law, but as long as that step is needed, I will absolutely support that law.”

“As Americans, we take great pride in our Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom. It would insult that tradition to impose a religious test at our borders,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this bill, which ensures our country lives up to its best traditions of openness, tolerance, and religious freedom.”

“To turn our back on immigrants would be to betray our nation's core values,” said Rep. Andre Carson.  “Blocking immigrants because of their religion would send a demoralizing and dangerous message to the world that the United States is no longer a beacon of freedom. This critical legislation signals that the United States has always been, and will continue to be, a country that welcomes people of all races, ethnicities, and religions.”

“I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Beyer’s bill, which makes clear that the United States does not discriminate based on religion.  Regardless of what Donald Trump may think, barring members of a particular religious group from entering the country is unconstitutional and would never be supported by Congress or the courts.  Like many before them, those seeking to come to our country are doing so because they want a better future for themselves and their children.  I hope House Republicans will join with us as cosponsors of this bill to send a strong message of support for our Constitution and the freedoms we hold dear and that have sustained us for generations,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.