Ranking Member Scott Statement on New Biden Actions to Combat Taxpayer-Funded Religious Discrimination, Protect Civil Rights
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden administration released final rules for nine federal agencies—including the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Education (ED), Labor (DOL), and Agriculture (USDA)—that would restore and strengthen key civil rights protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social service programs.
“As I have repeatedly said, no one should be forced to pass a religious test to access federally funded social service benefits, such as food, shelter, and job training, or employment, in federally funded programs. Regrettably, the Trump administration allowed faith-based service providers to discriminate against beneficiaries and require beneficiaries to participate in religious activities as a precondition of receiving services, while also expanding religious discrimination against employees of federal programs. This was part of a troubling shift over recent decades in which the weight of the federal government has been used to support the so-called right to discriminate instead of supporting victims of discrimination.
“By rejecting the Trump-era rules, the Biden administration will restore critical protections that ensure individuals from all religious backgrounds can receive federal social services without fear of religious discrimination or coercion. The rule also removes troubling language that invited faith-based organizations to broadly discriminate against their employees based on religion, which could have potentially allowed other forms of discrimination. I am particularly pleased that, following my letter to the administration last March, President Biden’s final rules take further steps to safeguard the rights of beneficiaries of federally funded programs. For example, the Biden rules require all beneficiaries of federally funded social service programs to be notified, when feasible, of their rights and recourse when they experience discrimination.
“In Congress, I remain committed to passing the Do No Harm Act to ensure the Religious Freedom Restoration Act is not used to erode civil rights under the guise of religious freedom. Today’s final rules take a significant step to protect the civil rights of individuals in federally funded social service programs and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act should not be allowed to undermine them.”
In March 2023, Ranking Member Scott joined Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), Oversight and Accountability Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerry Nadler (NY-12) in supporting the Biden-Harris administration’s proposed rules and calling for additional protections for beneficiaries and workers of federally funded programs.
In April 2023, Ranking Member Scott also co-introduced one of his top legislative priorities, the Do No Harm Act, which would help address the increasing use of religious freedom laws to undermine civil rights protections.
###
Press Contact
Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853
Next Article Previous Article