It's time for Congress to once more act to protect religious liberty. H.R. 1691 addresses this serious situation by restoring the general rule that state or local officials may not substantially burden religious exercise without demonstrating a 'compelling interest' in doing so. Where a religious activity or state burden of it affects interstate commerce, the religious activity will be protected by this bill, as will the religious exercise of participants in state or local programs receiving federal financial assistance. H.R. 1691 will also protect religious gatherings and institutions against unjustified actions by zoning boards, and includes procedural help for religiously-motivated people so that they will have their day in court if they can show their religious freedom has suffered at the hands of state or local government. Americans deserve to have their religious beliefs and practices protected.
Religious freedom is too important to be trampled by insensitive bureaucracy or bad policy.