Political Quotes

“I appreciate the gentleman's comment. This is something that we had some significant discussion about last night in the Committee on Rules. Let's make sure that the facts are straight. There is not one single thing in this bill that discriminates against anybody. In fact, in the provision he is talking about, there is not one single mention of LGBT. What is in that provision is a clear application by this law of protections of religious liberties that people have enjoyed in this country since the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act--one of the hallmarks of the legislative achievements of this body and an act, I believe, everybody in this body supports today. It says that the religious protections in that law that we are all so proud of should be enjoyed by people who have Federal contracts. Private parties that contract with the government should enjoy religious freedom. That is not discrimination. That is protecting the rights of the American people. Sometimes we get confused around here about that, and we are getting confused in the military bill about that, and that is very troublesome. Let's talk about the First Amendment. The First Amendment says that the government can't do anything to restrict the expression of religion, the practice of religion, the belief of religion by anybody in this country. It is called the Free Exercise Clause. We have forgotten the Free Exercise Clause in this body and in this country.…”