Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) are introducing two amendments in the full Senate to protect the religious rights of those in the U.S. armed forces. Last week, the two amendments passed in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The amendments intend to:
- Strengthen existing law so that the rights of conscience of military service members are protected and their expressions of religious faith in an appropriate manner are not discriminated against or subject to retaliation. Rep. John Fleming’s (R-LA) corresponding amendment in the House has elicited a veto threat from the White House.
- Instruct the Defense Department Inspector General to investigate reports of religious discrimination against troops who share their religious beliefs and also investigate any undue influence outside groups exert over Pentagon policy on religious matters. An anonymous survey would be mandated determining whether the Pentagon is preventing chaplains from doing their jobs or forcing them to perform actions that violate their consciences.
Sen. Cruz stated:
Freedom of religious expression is vital to our military culture, and I am deeply concerned by recent reports that servicemen and women have been prevented from exercising this fundamental Constitutional right. No soldier should fear a court martial for expressing his or her faith or made to fear negative reprisals for reporting threats to their freedom to worship God. The men and women of the military risk their lives every day to protect our Constitutional rights, and they should not be forced to surrender their religious liberty to do so.
Sen. Lee added, “The religious liberties of our men and women in uniform deserve strong protections. The amendment ensures the rights of servicemen and women to practice and share their faith and puts in place strong oversight to guarantee their rights of conscience.”
Roughly 25,000 military chaplains have been aiding the U.S. armed forces since 1775; more than 300 of them have died in the line of duty.
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