Yesterday, the American Humanist Association joined over forty other members of the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination in voicing opposition to the Russell Amendment. This addition to the National Defense Authorization Act would authorize taxpayer-funded discrimination in federal grants and contracts. 

Read the letter below, or click here to download a PDF version. 

  

The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination

April 27, 2016

The Honorable Mac Thornberry
Chairman
House Committee on Armed Services
2208 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 

The Honorable Adam Smith
Ranking Member
House Committee on Armed Services
2264 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Re: CARD Opposes Taxpayer-Funded Employment Discrimination Authorized by the Russell Amendment

Dear Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith: 

The 42 undersigned religious, education, civil rights, labor, and women’s organizations write to voice our strong opposition to the sweeping Russell Amendment to HR 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2017.

This amendment would authorize taxpayer-funded discrimination in each and every federal contract and grant. The government should never fund discrimination and no taxpayer should be disqualified from a job under a federal contract or grant because he or she is the “wrong” religion.

We appreciate the important role religiously affiliated institutions historically have played in addressing many of our nation’s most pressing social needs, as a complement to government-funded programs. Indeed, many of us are directly involved in this work. We also recognize that the separation of church and state is the linchpin of religious freedom. In our view, effective government collaboration with faith-based groups does not require the sanctioning of federally funded religious discrimination.

Because it is inconsistent with the longstanding principle that federal dollars must not be used to discriminate, we urge you to vote NO on the Russell Amendment. 

If you would like further information, please contact Maggie Garrett, (202) 466-3234 x. 226 or garrett@au.org.

Sincerely,

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
American Civil Liberties Union
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Americans for Religious Liberty
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Anti-Defamation League
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Catholics for Choice
Center for Inquiry
Council for Secular Humanism
Disciples Justice Action Network
Equal Partners in Faith
Human Rights Campaign
Institute for Science and Human Values
Interfaith Alliance
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Lambda Legal
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Muslim Advocates
NAACP
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Council of Churches, USA
National Council of Jewish Women
National Education Association
National Organization for Women
National Women’s Law Center
People For the American Way
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Secular Coalition for America
The Sikh Coalition
Texas Freedom Network
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society