Donald M. Payne: “Mr. Speaker, as a sponsor of this bill expressing disapproval of religious discrimination by the German Government, I…”

“Mr. Speaker, as a sponsor of this bill expressing disapproval of religious discrimination by the German Government, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined in supporting a very basic, democratic right, freedom of religion. This bipartisan resolution was approved by the full Committee on International Relations after performing artists associated with religious minorities were denied the opportunity to perform in Germany and were also kept out of the political process. As our resolution states, the German Government is constitutionally obligated to remain neutral on religious matters, but it has violated this neutrality. The United States, as the leader of the free world and champion of democracy around the globe, has an obligation to take a stand whenever we see basic religious rights being restricted, whether their religious affiliation is Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or any other faith. Performing artists from the United States have been denied the right to perform in Germany based on their personal spiritual beliefs. When our citizens visit and work abroad, they should be able to live in peace without the fear of religious intolerance or mistreatment by the host government. In turn, when individuals visit the United States or decide to live here, they have a right to be able to worship freely and join any organization or group they choose to.”