U.S. House Passes Public Expression of Religion Act
by a 244 to 173 Vote

Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Public Expression of Religion Act (HR 2679, also known as PERA). The final vote was 244 in favor to 173 against. The Act was sponsored by Congressman John Hostettler from Indiana with 66 cosponsors.

PERA now goes to the Senate and if passed, anyone who sues government officials over an Establishment Clause violation and wins could not recover damages, attorney's fees or costs, but could still obtain a court order halting any unconstitutional action. PERA would stop advocacy groups like the ACLU from using the threat of monetary awards to force the removal of Christmas displays, religious symbols from city seals or memorials, or to stop other public acknowledgement of religion.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, who testified before House and Senate Judiciary Subcommittees in favor of the bill, commented: "Now that the Public Expression of Religion Act has passed the House, we urge the Senate to move quickly to approve the bill. There is no valid reason for the Senate to delay a vote on PERA." He concluded, "The Public Expression of Religion Act will encourage local government officials to stand up to those who would chisel religious symbols from our public buildings and wipe our religious heritage from the public square."

Action Item: Contact your Senators and Urge Passage of Religious Expression Bill

Call Senate Majority Leader Frist and ask him cosponsor the freedom of religious expression bill in the Senate. You can reach Senator Frist at (202) 224-3344.

A substantially similar bill to H.R. 2679 is S. 3696, which was sponsored by Senator Brownback of Kansas and has 14 cosponsors: Sen Allard [CO], Sen Bennett, [UT], Sen Coburn [OK]; Sen. Cochran [MS]; Sen DeMint [SC]; Sen Grassley [IA]; Sen Hatch [UT]; Sen Inhofe [OK]; Sen Kyl [AZ]; Sen Lott [MS]; Sen Robert [KS]; Sen Sessions [AL]; Sen Thune [SD]; Sen Vitter [LA].

If your Senators are not cosponsors them call them and urge them to sponsor and support PERA. Please call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, ask to speak with your Senators today. You can email your Senator by going to www.Senate.gov, but a telephone call is more effective.

The title of the bill was also changed to the “Veterans' Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, And Other Public Expressions Of Religion Protection Act Of 2006.”

Read the transcript of the House debate on PERA