Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1814, the Equitable Access to Care and Health Act. One of our inalienable rights as American citizens is that we have the right to proscribe in whatever faith we so choose. With this right comes also the freedom from persecution and different treatment under the law. This body has long recognized the freedom of religion and has worked to ensure individuals of all faiths are treated fairly under the law. Even the Affordable Care Act, which imposes the burden of mandating the purchase of insurance, includes a religious conscience exemption from that individual mandate. However, this exemption is not fairly distributed to all Americans. {time} 1645 While covering many faiths, it doesn't cover all who seek protection. What the EACH Act does is to ensure that this exemption equally applies to every American who wants it. It also protects individuals' First Amendment rights from being placed in jeopardy because of a requirement to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty. This is commonsense fairness legislation that extends a fundamental right to all Americans that have religious objections to standard medical care. This is a chance for us to right a wrong that I believe was just a drafting oversight. Of course, we ensure that the government doesn't impose a $1.5 billion tax on Americans simply because of their religious beliefs. I thank my good friend and colleague from Illinois on the Committee on Ways and Means (Mr.…”