Jack Brooks: “The Conference Committee on S. 636 reported back to us a product that merges the Senate and the House-passed bills in a…”

“The Conference Committee on S. 636 reported back to us a product that merges the Senate and the House-passed bills in a very careful, balanced fashion. Thus, the Senate's protections against interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at places of religious worship have been preserved. Those protections are the same as those enjoyed by persons obtaining or providing reproductive health services. The Conference Committee agreed to the lower penalties found in the Senate version of the legislation, which was also a matter of some importance to the Members of this body. Other House Members were concerned that the meaning of the words interfere with were not defined in the House bill. The Senate bill's definition of that term is contained in the conference report. The report also consolidates and clarifies the various rules of construction, without losing any of their meaning.”