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Senator Introduces Resolution to Block New Biden Rule Discriminating Against Christian Groups
By Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) recently joined U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing a resolution of disapproval to overturn a Biden administration final rule that directs nine federal agencies to discriminate against faith-based organizations.
The Congressional Review Act resolution (S.J.Res.73) targets a rule finalized in March that empowers the nine agencies to jeopardize the ability of faith-based organizations to receive federal contracts and grants on the same basis as secular organizations. The rule will effectively force religious organizations and faith-based charities to choose between receiving federal funds and maintaining their core beliefs.
“The Biden administration’s unrelenting attacks on faith-based organizations are unfounded, unwarranted, and offensive. These organizations are often pillars of our communities in offering services, guidance, and support, and we must do all that we can to ensure they can continue their transformative work,” said Hyde-Smith, chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus.
“Faith-based charities have long been essential partners to the federal government, providing crucial ‘boots on the ground’ support in many initiatives. The Biden Administration’s rule threatens to sideline these charities and force a radical social agenda on them,” Rubio said.
The “Partnerships With Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations” rule directs federal agencies to levy unrealistic and burdensome regulations on faith-based recipients of federal funds that make it financially and logistically infeasible for these charities carrying out social service programs, such as soup kitchens, educational outreach, or child welfare providers.
The agencies given the green light to show bias against faith-based services include the U.S. Departments of Education, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Additional S.J.Res.73 cosponsors include U.S. Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
Hyde-Smith recently cosponsored the Protecting Religious Freedom for Foster Families Act (S.3935) that targets the proposed HHS rule to require foster caregivers to adhere to the radical left’s transgender agenda or exit the foster care system. The Senator is also an original cosponsor of the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (S.3344) to prohibit federal, state and local government agencies that receive federal adoption assistance funding from discriminating against child welfare service providers based on the providers’ unwillingness to act contrary to their religious beliefs.