Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) announced today that he’s introduced a joint resolution declaring protection for the freedom of conscience for all Americans.

Congressman Banks’ resolution comes after Beto O’Rourke shocked watchers of a nationally televised town hall when he called to punish churches and other religious institutions like colleges, non-profits, etc. who did not agree with his views on human sexuality.

“The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states, ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’ No religion, or its practitioners, can be suppressed or coerced by the state. When politicians threaten to use the power of the state to deliberately suppress some peoples because of their religious convictions, they violate the Constitution and one of America’s most sacred traditions,” said Rep. Banks.

“The First Amendment states that no matter one’s beliefs, no matter how one worships – if one worships – every American citizen may enjoy the rights enshrined to them in the Constitution, given to them not by the state but by God.”

Rep. Banks’ legislation, H. J. Res. 78, is a joint resolution filed in companion with Senator Ben Sasse’s (R-NE) resolution also condemning O’Rourke and his threat to strip the tax-exemption status of religious institutions.

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