Two Important Bills before Congress

Hat Tip to STACLU for all the hard work in combatting those who would take away our religous freedom.

Good News: PERA goes to the House floor!

As you may or may not have heard, the Public Expression of Religion Act (PERA), which would curb the likes of the ACLU from obtaining taxpayer money in the event of adverse rulings regarding the removal of religious symbols and plaques of the Commandments, passed by voice vote out of the House Judiciary Committee and now moves to the floor for a full House vote.

Needless to say, the ACLU and Americans (Dis) United (AU) are not happy about this. You can read their press releases by clicking here and here.

TAKE ACTION

Since Congress is set to adjourn for the year at the end of this month, we urgently need you to contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a vote on this bill. His phone number in Washington is (202) 225-2976 and his fax is (202) 225-0697. His number in Illinois is (630) 406-1114 and his fax is (630) 406-1808. Please be respectful when you call or fax and urge him to allow House Bill 2679 for a vote.

More info on Speaker Hastert can be obtained by clicking here.

The companion bill, Senate Bill 3696, in the U.S. Senate is sponsored by Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Unlike the House Judiciary Committee in which passage sailed thru without dissent, the Senate Judiciary Committee is where we must raise our voices since Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, according to Rees Lloyd of the American Legion, is said to oppose the legislation.

Please contact Sen. Specter to allow a vote in committee and to support SB 3696. His Washington phone is (202) 224-4254 and his fax is (202) 228-1229. His Philadelphia office phone is (215) 597-7200 and the fax is (215) 597-0406.

More info on Sen. Specter can be obtained by clicking here.

Of course, we need you to call or fax your Congressmen and women to urge them to vote YES on HB 2679 and your two U.S. senators to vote YES on SB 3696. If possible, please ask the aide you reach how their lawmaker would vote and to have that lawmaker release a statement as to their position.

If you do not know who your elected officials are, click here.

If you wish, our friends at the American Legion has set up their own Action Alert page which contains information and talking points which you are free to use when you call your Congressional and senatorial leaders. There is also a section to report the results of your calls. If you do use these features, let us know how they worked out for you.