As expected, by a vote of 236 to 173, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed HR 5, Nancy Pelosi’s so-called Equality Act. The bill, if enacted, will decimate religious freedom, conscience rights, women’s rights, parental rights and education policy all across the nation.
We have been updating you on the dangerous effects of this legislation for some time now. While the fight over HR 5 heads to the U.S. Senate, we will continue to keep you abreast of new developments. To that end, we have already set up a page where you can urge your two U.S. senators to oppose HR 5.
In a good development yesterday, the Trump administration announced that it was opposed to HR 5, noting its troubling provisions related to conscience rights and parental rights. However, the fight in the Senate remains critical, as it’s very important to minimize the number of Republican senators who declare their support for the bill. In the House vote today, only eight Republicans voted for HR 5, while 173 voted against it.
Many reading this email took action to let their member of Congress know that they wanted them to oppose HR 5.
How did your member vote? You can find out here. (If you are unsure who your representative is, you can find their name and contact information in our Action Center by entering your zip code and/or address.)
If your member of Congress voted against HR 5, please let them know that you appreciate their stand for religious freedom, parental rights and conscience protections.
The Family Policy Alliance Team
The United States House voted on Friday, 236-to-173, to advance the “Equality Act” which, if passed by the Senate and signed by the President, places “gay rights” in direct conflict with religious liberty. In fact, it actually elevates gay rights above religious rights. But then again, perhaps this was the goal all along.
In a widespread 2014 interview, then-Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner Chai Feldblum was asked if she could conceive of a legal matter in which religious liberty rights would trump gay rights. She answered: “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.”
Feldblum is openly lesbian. To her credit, she made no attempt to hide her agenda. And while progressives try to sugarcoat their poison pill in sweet expressions of “Equality,” Christians should take notice that it is anything but equality for those who express a Christian faith. The provisions of this legislation open the door to:
- Parents losing their right to direct medical care when their minor child seeks experimental “gender transition” drugs and genital reconstruction surgery
- Parents being kept uninformed when their child seeks counseling for struggles with gender identity or unwanted same-sex attraction
- Biological males competing in girls’ athletics and for girls’ scholarships
- Christian business owners being required to choose between their faith and their business
- Christian adoption agencies being forced to choose between their faith or continuing to serve children and birthmothers in need
While the Senate is unlikely to give a hearing to the so-called Equality Act, that’s not the end of the story. First, the House, under Speaker Pelosi’s leadership, is likely to tack it onto other legislation, potentially forcing big votes in the Senate.
And even with the threat of a Presidential veto, this is an all-too-familiar strategy of the Left—promote corrosive legislation in one session and get as many legislators as they can on record supporting it. Then actively press the issue forevermore in the court of public opinion to wear down people’s natural concerns and values. And finally, ensure the radical legislation passes in the most progressive states to lay the groundwork for passage in other states and eventually Congress.
To their shame, Nancy Pelosi’s House voted to subvert religious liberty to gay rights even though the former is fundamentally protected in our First Amendment. Strikingly, at the same time and for the 44th time, Pelosi prevented the House from voting on legislation to protect a child who survives an abortion. Instead, Pelosi’s policy allows that child to perish by withholding medical assistance. Where’s the equality for children born alive?
If that doesn’t awaken the church, what will?
Family Policy Alliance exists to be the voice for people of faith—in the church, the Christian business community and in legislatures across the nation and in D.C. We amplify your voice to stand firm and take action. But we can only stand for you when you stand with us!
Won’t you give today to have your voice—and those of your children—amplified today and heard tomorrow?
Standing for the Family, 
Paul Weber
President and CEO
P.S. If you haven’t yet had the chance to urge your two U.S. Senators to OPPOSE the so-called Equality Act, please do so today! It only takes one minute on our instant Action Center.
With Nancy Pelosi’s dangerous Equality Act facing a vote on Thursday in the U.S. House, it has become even clearer that this is a clash between D.C. lobbying powerhouses and grassroots America.
Two major factions are pushing the Equality Act: the LGBT lobby and big business.
The LGBT lobby, led by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), has been ratcheting up pressure from the Left. But they are joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been pushing Republicans to support the bill, despite the fact that it imperils religious freedom, parental rights and more.
The Chamber has even threatened to “score” this vote – meaning that each representative’s vote would be factored into the Chamber’s rating of how pro-business that member is.
But while this strange-bedfellow coalition works the D.C. swamp, grassroots America is heating up in strong opposition to the bill. Congressional offices report that this bill is generating the most constituent opposition to a bill that they have seen in a long time.
Family Policy Alliance® supporters like you have played a significant part in that growing grassroots opposition. And you still have a chance to make your voice heard!
You can send an email in just moments on our Action Center. Then you’ll receive a follow-up email with your representative’s name and number so you can easily make a quick call, asking them to vote NO on the so-called Equality Act.
Thanks for speaking up!
The Family Policy Alliance Team
The House of Representatives passed the Conscience Protection Act on Wednesday. The bill would ensure pro-life Americans will not have to participate in abortion.
Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council said it is a step in the right direction.
“I applaud the House for voting to codify longstanding federal conscience protections, and to give pro-life victims of government discrimination the right to sue in court,” he said. “No person, organization or healthcare provider should ever be forced by the government to participate in the abhorrent act of abortion.”
A majority of Republicans were joined by 3 Democrats in voting for the measure that takes steps to stop government discrimination. Matt Bowman, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom said the Obama Administration has repeatedly violated federal law making this bill necessary.
“The House was right to pass this bill to protect the freedom of Americans to practice and choose pro-life health care,” he said, “and we hope the Senate will take it up as well.”