House Committee Votes to Concur on Religious Freedom Bill

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This morning the House Judiciary Committee voted to concur in the amendments the Arkansas Senate made to H.B. 1228, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

This brings the bill one step closer to the governor’s desk.

The bill passed the committee with 11 representatives voting for it; 5 representatives voting against it; and 4 representatives not voting.

Below is a breakdown of the vote.

The Following Representatives Voted for the Bill

  • Rep. House (R-North Little Rock)
  • Rep. Ballinger (R-Hindsville)
  • Rep. Baine (D-El Dorado)
  • Rep. Farrer (R-Austin)
  • Rep. Petty (R-Rogers)
  • Rep. Drown (R-Dover)
  • Rep. Michelle Gray (R-Melbourne)
  • Rep. Copeland (R-Little Rock)
  • Rep. Tosh (R-Jonesboro)
  • Rep. Beck (R-Center Ridge)
  • Rep. Rushing (R-Hot Springs)

The Following Representatives Voted Against the Bill

  • Rep. Scott (R-Rogers)
  • Rep. Eddie Armstrong (D-North Little Rock)
  • Rep. Whitaker (D-Fayetteville)
  • Rep. Broadaway (D-Paragould)
  • Rep. Bennett (D-Lonoke)

The Following Representatives Did Not Vote

  • Rep. Vines (D-Hot Springs)
  • Rep. Talley (D-Hope)
  • Rep. Wright (D-Forrest City)
  • Rep. Shepherd (R-El Dorado)

The bill now goes to the entire House of Representatives for a vote.

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Please Contact Your Senator About HB 1228

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House Bill 1228, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, was passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon. However, the entire Arkansas Senate has not voted on it yet.

The Arkansas Legislature will adjourn very soon; if the Arkansas Senate does not vote for this important bill right away, there may not be enough time to get the bill passed into law before the legislative session ends.

I need you to contact your senator right away. Please ask him or her to support H.B. 1228, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This good bill is similar to legislation passed in 21 other states; Indiana just passed a Religious Freedom Restoration Act this week. These laws help affirm the free exercise of religion under state law, and they prevent further erosion of religious liberty.

You can leave a message asking your senator to vote for H.B. 1228, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, by calling the Senate Switchboard at (501) 682-2902.

Opponents of this good bill are already calling your legislators. Please contact your senator in support of H.B. 1228, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, right away.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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Help Stand for Religious Liberty in the Military

Current Events,

The following is by Family Council staff member Deborah Beuerman.

The persecution and hostility against Christians in the U.S. Military is strong.  Both gay activists and atheists have been allowed register complaints resulting in punitive action and even dismissal from the military for Christian members.

Military chaplains are particularly under attack as evidenced this week by the removal from duty of U.S. Navy Chaplain Lt. Commander Wes Modder, who has served 19 years with great distinction.

Credentialed by the Assemblies of God, Chaplain Modder was accused of “failing to show tolerance and respect the rights of individuals.”  This by the base commander who had just weeks before commended Chaplain Modder as “the best of the best.”  Under the pretext of curiosity about the chaplain’s beliefs, a young officer newly assigned as a chaplain’s assistant visited with him in private numerous times.  Chaplain Modder expressed his biblical view on sexual morality–including homosexuality.  Never disclosing that he himself was gay and married to a man, the officer appeared one day with 2 Equal Opportunity representatives and a 5-page complaint which could result in the chaplain being forced out of the military.

Chaplain Modder was simply doing what he is trained and directed to do: offering spiritual guidance in accordance with his faith. His right to do so is legally protected. In fact, according to military policy, if he does not adhere to the tenets of his faith, he could lose his ability to remain a chaplain.

Federal law and military regulations forbid the Navy from taking adverse action against a chaplain based on his faith, making the Navy’s actions against Modder unlawful.

Below are links for signing two petitions to the Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus calling for Chaplain Modder to be fully restored and all charges against him to be dropped. Family Research Council and Liberty Institute will deliver your petitions to them to show them that the American people will not stand for hostility toward faith in their military.

http://www.frc.org/alert/another-chaplain-needs-your-help

https://www.libertyinstitute.org/modderfacts

you can also contact your members of Congress.  American Family Association has provided this link that allows you to easily send emails:

http://www.afa.net/activism/contact-elected-officials/

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