Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

Bill: 113-hconres-58
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9]
Introduced: 2013-10-05
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Appropriations

Defense spending

Department of Defense

Executive agency funding and structure

First Amendment rights

Military personnel and dependents

Religion
Latest action: action_date: 2013-10-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-10-05
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Recognizes the performance of religious services and the provision of ministry as protected activities under the First Amendment of the Constitution.</p> <p>Urges the Secretary of Defense, during any lapse in appropriations, to permit: (1) the performance of religious services on property owned or maintained by the Department of Defense (DOD); and (2) military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain to perform religious services and ministry. </p> <p>Expresses the sense of Congress that such services be permitted and available during a lapse in appropriations in the same manner and to the same extent as they are otherwise permitted and available. </p>

action_date: 2013-10-05
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p><b>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</b></p> <p>Recognizes the performance of religious services and the provision of ministry as protected activities under the First Amendment of the Constitution.</p> <p>Urges the Secretary of Defense, during any lapse in appropriations, to permit: (1) the performance of religious services on property owned or maintained by the Department of Defense (DOD); and (2) military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain to perform religious services and ministry. </p> <p>Expresses the sense of Congress that such services be permitted and available during a lapse in appropriations in the same manner and to the same extent as they are otherwise permitted and available. </p>

action_date: 2013-10-10
action_desc: Passed Senate amended
text: <p>Expresses the sense of Congress that the provision and availability of religious services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing of many members of the Armed Forces and their families. </p> <p>Expresses hope that the Secretary of Defense (DOD) is able to determine that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military personnel, and would therefore be covered under the appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act (P.L. 113-39). </p>

tv_txt: IV 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 58 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

Whereas the Department of Defense has determined that some military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain are not able to perform religious services on military installations during a lapse in appropriations; Whereas this determination threatens the ability of members of the Armed Services and their families to exercise their First Amendment rights to worship and participate in religious activities; and Whereas the Department of the Interior has permitted the performance of First Amendment activities in areas controlled by the National Park Service despite the lapse in appropriations: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) recognizes that the performance of religious services and the provision of ministry are protected activities under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; (2) urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit the performance of religious services on property owned or maintained by the Department of Defense, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such religious services are otherwise available; and (3) urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain to perform religious services and ministry, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such chaplains and other personnel are otherwise permitted to perform religious services and ministry.

Passed the House of Representatives October 5, 2013. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 58 In the Senate of the United States, October 10, 2013. Amendments:

That the resolution from the House of Representatives (H. Con. Res. 58) entitled Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations. , do pass with the following (1) Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas the Department of Defense determined that some contractor clergy, like other Department of Defense contractors, were unable to perform their contractual duties during the current lapse in appropriations; Whereas this determination may have impacted the ability of members of the Armed Forces and their families to worship and participate in religious activities; Whereas military chaplains on active duty, like all military personnel on active duty, continue to perform their duties during the current lapse in appropriations; Whereas the Department continues to analyze its authorities under the Pay Our Military Act ( Public Law 113–39 ) with respect to contractors; and Whereas the Pay Our Military Act appropriates such sums as are necessary to pay contractors of the Department whom the Secretary of Defense determines are providing support to members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it (2) On page 2, strike line 3 and all that follows through page 3, line 2, and insert the following: (1) finds that the provision and availability of religious services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing of many members of the Armed Forces and their families; and (2) hopes the Secretary of Defense is able to determine that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military personnel, and would therefore be covered under the appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act ( Public Law 113–39 ).

Secretary

tv_txt: III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 58 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 5, 2013 Received CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

Whereas the Department of Defense has determined that some military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain are not able to perform religious services on military installations during a lapse in appropriations; Whereas this determination threatens the ability of members of the Armed Services and their families to exercise their First Amendment rights to worship and participate in religious activities; and Whereas the Department of the Interior has permitted the performance of First Amendment activities in areas controlled by the National Park Service despite the lapse in appropriations: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) recognizes that the performance of religious services and the provision of ministry are protected activities under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; (2) urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit the performance of religious services on property owned or maintained by the Department of Defense, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such religious services are otherwise available; and (3) urges and intends that the Secretary of Defense permit military chaplains and other personnel, including contract personnel, hired to perform duties of a military chaplain to perform religious services and ministry, during any lapse in appropriations, in the same manner and to the same extent as such chaplains and other personnel are otherwise permitted to perform religious services and ministry.

Passed the House of Representatives October 5, 2013. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IV One Hundred Thirteenth Congress of the United States of America At the First Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, two thousand and thirteen H. CON. RES. 58 October 16, 2013 Agreed to CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

Whereas the Department of Defense determined that some contractor clergy, like other Department of Defense contractors, were unable to perform their contractual duties during the current lapse in appropriations; Whereas this determination may have impacted the ability of members of the Armed Forces and their families to worship and participate in religious activities; Whereas military chaplains on active duty, like all military personnel on active duty, continue to perform their duties during the current lapse in appropriations; Whereas the Department continues to analyze its authorities under the Pay Our Military Act ( Public Law 113–39 ) with respect to contractors; and Whereas the Pay Our Military Act appropriates such sums as are necessary to pay contractors of the Department whom the Secretary of Defense determines are providing support to members of the Armed Forces: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) finds that the provision and availability of religious services and clergy is important to the morale and wellbeing of many members of the Armed Forces and their families; and (2) hopes the Secretary of Defense is able to determine that contractor clergy provide necessary support to military personnel, and would therefore be covered under the appropriations made available under the Pay Our Military Act ( Public Law 113–39 ).

Clerk of the House of Representatives. Secretary of the Senate.