INFORMATION RELEASE
Mike Ghouse, Executive Director
(214) 325-1916 | Mike@AmericanMuslimInstitution.org
Website: www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.org
AMI AT CAPITOL HILL TODAY
May 11, 2016, Washington, D.C.
House Delegation Introduces Religious Freedom Bill: Legislation Would Prohibit Blocking Entry to U.S. Based on Religious Identification
Just to keep you informed, we are pleased to share with you today’s event at the Capitol Hill. AMI President Ambassador Islam Siddiqui and I attended the event on the Capitol Hill along with more than 40 other interfaith and human rights organization leaders.
The staff of Congressman Don Beyer of Virginia’s 8th District had invited us to join them for the press conference to introduce Religious Freedom Bill: Legislation Would Prohibit Blocking Entry to U.S. Based on Religious Identification. Our outreach program is in place and we will continue to reach out to the law makers. In this bill, American Muslim Institution is listed as one of the supporting organizations.
In view of the anti-Muslim rhetoric and demonizing of Muslims by a number of Presidential candidates in recent months, we are pleased to see that Congressman Don Beyer and a number of other members of Congress have introduced this important bill that will prohibit the religious test in administrative decisions dealing with immigrants, refugees and visitors from Muslim countries, said AMI President Islam Siddiqui.
Here are a few highlights from a press release from the Congressman’s office today.
“In response to political rhetoric vilifying select religious groups and increasingly hostile rhetoric toward religious freedom in the immigration system, a House delegation, including Reps. Don Beyer (VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Keith Ellison (MN), Joe Crowley (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), Mike Honda (CA), Betty McCollum (MN), André Carson (ID), introduced the Freedom of Religion Act today to prohibit the use of religious litmus tests as a means to ban immigrants, refugees, and international visitors trying to enter the United States.
A religious based immigration or travel ban would hurt the United States and our relationships abroad. Such a proposal would deny entry to world leaders, tourists, relatives of Americans, and scientific, business, and political leaders attending meetings in the United States.”
We hope this bill will pass and we will do our share of work in gaining support from a few members of the congress.
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OTHER QUOTES:
Here are a few highlights from a press release from the Congressman’s office today.
“In response to political rhetoric vilifying select religious groups and increasingly hostile rhetoric toward religious freedom in the immigration system, a House delegation, including Reps. Don Beyer (VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Keith Ellison (MN), Joe Crowley (NY), Jan Schakowsky (IL), Mike Honda (CA), Betty McCollum (MN), André Carson (ID), introduced the Freedom of Religion Act today to prohibit the use of religious litmus tests as a means to ban immigrants, refugees, and international visitors trying to enter the United States.
“We cannot allow fear and paranoia to drive our public policy, especially when it comes to the defining values of our country,” said Rep. Beyer. “Our Founding Fathers guaranteed religious freedom for all in the First Amendment to our Constitution. People all around the world look to us as the standard for freedom, liberty, and tolerance.”
“The first Americans often were refugees from religion oppression,” said Norton. “Many come today for the same reason. We betray our first principles when religion becomes a qualification for entry or exclusion from the United States.”
“This bill will uphold our core values by guaranteeing that religion isn’t used to decide who can enter the country. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty reads: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” It doesn’t say anything about a person’s faith,” said Rep. Keith Ellison.
“This bill is about the very foundation our nation was built on, and that’s religious freedom,” said Rep. Crowley, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. “I’m proud to join Congressman Beyer and my colleagues on this legislation – we must ensure that the United States will continue to remain a model for religious tolerance and freedom.”
“As a nation of immigrants, we should welcome all who come to this country regardless of their religion or ethnic background,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “We are one nation, and we will only rise above the hatred spouted by terrorists abroad by staying united here at home.”
“I have been proud take our oath of office and promise to protect and defend the Constitution,” said Rep. Honda. “That Constitution makes it the mission of our nation to fully defend the right to freely practice religion. It is sad that, based on our current politics, that mission must be written into a new law, but as long as that step is needed, I will absolutely support that law.”
Congresswoman McCollum said. “I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this bill, which ensures our country lives up to its best traditions of openness, tolerance, and religious freedom.”
“To turn our back on immigrants would be to betray our nation’s core values,” said Rep. Andre Carson. “This critical legislation signals that the United States has always been, and will continue to be, a country that welcomes people of all races, ethnicities, and religions.”
“I’m proud to cosponsor Rep. Beyer’s bill, which makes clear that the United States does not discriminate based on religion. Regardless of what Donald Trump may think, barring members of a particular religious group from entering the country is unconstitutional and would never be supported by Congress or the courts. Like many before them, those seeking to come to our country are doing so because they want a better future for themselves and their children. I hope House Republicans will join with us as cosponsors of this bill to send a strong message of support for our Constitution and the freedoms we hold dear and that have sustained us for generations,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.
Additionally, the bill has more than 70 bipartisan original co-sponsors, and of the 105 stakeholder groups that endorsed the bill.
A religious based immigration or travel ban would hurt the United States and our relationships abroad. Such a proposal would deny entry to world leaders, tourists, relatives of Americans, and scientific, business, and political leaders attending meetings in the United States.”
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