On the recordFebruary 16, 2012
First of all, let me thank the gentleman from Colorado for his leadership in holding this discussion tonight. This is a very important discussion because it is about a fundamental American principle. As you mentioned, over a year ago, we actually began work on the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act in anticipation that the new health care law may actually be used to undermine religious freedom and the moral precepts, the deeply held beliefs, of many Americans in this country. You had mentioned that this particular bill--hopefully, we'll get it through this House soon, and there is a companion measure, by the way, in the Senate--would not only protect faith-based organizations, which seem to be most perniciously targeted by this new HHS mandate from the strong arm of government, which is forcing them to pay for drugs and procedures that may violate their ethics norms, but it would also protect all Americans because, right now, these institutions, as well as other people of good will, are being asked to choose: to follow your deeply held, reasoned beliefs or to obey President Obama and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius' new mandate, which is in violation of your conscience rights. That's a false choice. That's un-American. That violates a deeply held principle of this country, namely religious liberty, which we have held so dear throughout our history.…
