News Release
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2016
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078
Group Blasts Senator Bob Casey for Signing Letter Attacking Religious Belief
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr. has signed onto a letter written and circulated by Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal. It was delivered to the chairmen and ranking members of the US Senate and US House Armed Services Committees. Its purpose? To force the removal of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would protect faith-based organizations that perform work for the US government from being forced to act against their beliefs. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) has contacted Senator Casey asking him to remove his name from the letter and inquiring as to whether he would participate in the filibuster that Senator Blumenthal threatens if the amendment is not removed.
“Apparently Senator Casey is willing to extend special protections to homosexuals and transgenders while stifling the protections for religious contractors. The amendment referred to in the letter, the Russell Amendment, protects the freedom of religious organizations receiving federal contracts to hire employees who support the core mission of the organization, in accordance with federal employment protections like Title VII. Failing to maintain those protections for religious organizations forces them out of the federal contracting sphere and hurts those whom they serve, like refugees, veterans and children. One must wonder why Senator Casey is so anti-religious freedom,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.
The communication with Senator Casey is as follows:
It is very disappointing that you have signed onto Senator Richard Blumenthal’s letter asking for the removal of Sec. 1094 from the National Defense Authorization Act. The removal of this amendment would force faith-based organizations that perform work for the US government to act against their beliefs. As noted in Sec. 1094, these protections would be consistent with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Yet you, apparently, want to scuttle those legal protections.
Senator Blumenthal has said that a filibuster of the legislation would be an option if Sec. 1094 is not removed before the bill reaches the floor of the Senate. Would you take part in such a filibuster to further the gay agenda, instead of supporting the needs of our troops?
As a pro-family organization that supports our military, we respectively ask you to remove your name from Senator Blumenthal’s letter.
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