Jewish Public Affairs Arm Condemns House Passage of Charitable Choice; Federal Discrimination ‘Unconscionable’

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 254

NEW YORK, July 19, 2001— The executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Hannah Rosenthal, issued the following statement in response to today’s 233 to 198 House vote on H.R. 7, The Community Solutions Act of 2001, which expands so-called charitable choice programs.

"The House of Representatives voted today to abandon our nation’s history of religious tolerance and freedom in favor of a scheme to direct billions of taxpayer dollars to religious institutions. By failing to adopt necessary safeguards, 233 members of Congress voted to allow discrimination against employees and applicants in government-funded programs. It is unconscionable, unconstitutional and unacceptable to force those seeking federal services to submit to proselytizing missionaries.

In light of the growing national opposition to charitable choice programs it is especially troubling that so many members of Congress flouted the will of the American people and disregarded the constitutional, civil rights and discrimination concerns this bill raises.

Members of Congress who opposed H.R. 7, The Community Solutions Act of 2001, deserve the highest praise for standing against those who sought to paint them as enemies of religion. Majority and minority faiths alike have flourished in America precisely because of the constitutional safeguards that separate government from religion. We urge the Senate to stand for religious freedom, religious liberty, and religious tolerance and reject this destructive and divisive legislation."

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs remains steadfastly opposed to charitable choice programs that do not contain First Amendment safeguards, such as those that prevent proselytization, coercion or indoctrination and that safeguard clients and service provider employees against religiously-based discrimination.

JCPA, the public affairs arm of the organized Jewish community, serves as the national coordinating and advisory body for the 13 national and 122 local agencies comprising the field of Jewish community relations.

###