This week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases of business owners challenging the mandate in the President’s health law that employees be provided abortion-inducing drugs. Hobby Lobby, a family-owned craft store business, and Conestoga Wood, a Mennonite-owned woodworking company, believe their First Amendment right to religious freedom is being violated by the government mandate.
On the eve of this historic case, I led many of my House colleagues in a Special Order, in support of our Constitutional right to religious freedom. I shared what I called “A Tale of Two Garages; the American Dream; and how the Government is Jeopardizing it.” The first is the story of David and Barbara Green who, in the early 1970s, borrowed $600 and began making picture frames in their garage in Oklahoma. From those humble beginnings came success with the Hobby Lobby chain that has blossomed into 556 stores in 41 states, with 70 more stores scheduled to open this year. And they hire 16,000 full-time employees. The second story is that of Norman and Elizabeth Hahn in Pennsylvania. They began a small business in their garage in the 1960s, selling doors and wood components for kitchen cabinets. That small business, known as Conestoga Wood, is now a leader in wholesale wood products for kitchen cabinets, with five locations in three states.
Both the Greens and the Hahns are people of faith who believe abortion ends a life. They do not want the government to force them to pay for something they find morally objectionable, or to choose between staying in business and following their religious beliefs. But the sad fact is that employers offering health care coverage without abortion-inducing drugs face fines of up to $36,500 per employee each year for failure to comply with the government edict – an unconscionable price to have to pay for following one’s religious beliefs. Where are the Administration’s priorities in this unjust scheme? From a Constitutional perspective the government mandate clearly tramples on America’s deeply held tradition of respecting the freedom of conscience.
These businesses and others across the country want to provide their employees with quality health coverage, but do not want to be forced to choose between following their faith and submitting to an intrusive government mandate. No one is stopping any employees from obtaining abortion-inducing drugs on their own. The Greens and Hahns are simply saying they should not be forced by the government to aid in the abortion process by providing these drugs. Their position makes good sense and it upholds America’s Constitutional rights and freedoms. I eagerly look forward to the Supreme Court decision, which is expected in June. I pray the Court upholds our most fundamental right.
On another matter, the House took another step this week to rein in the unilateral power of the White House by approving the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act, H.R. 1459. This would require public participation before a presidentially-declared National Monument is made official by changing the 1906 Antiquities Act, which allows Presidents to unilaterally designate National Monuments without any input or involvement of the American public, community leaders, or elected officials. It was intended to be used in emergencies to protect historic artifacts and sites of scientific value from imminent threat. But it has been misused for political purposes, specifically to restrict access to vast areas of America’s public lands.
The House bill would guarantee the American people an opportunity to take part in these important decisions, while preventing the inclusion of private property in monument declarations without the prior approval and written consent of property owners. This legislation addresses the issue of Presidential overreach by ensuring that Presidents – regardless of political party – make decisions of this kind out in the open. America benefits when the secrecy of government actions is replaced with transparency. I urge the Senate to take up this common sense legislation and act on behalf of the American people by quickly passing it.
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