July 18, 2000

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act is legislation of critical importance to the Orthodox Jewish community. It was introduced last week in the U.S. Senate by Senators Hatch (R-UT), Kennedy (D-MA), Bennett (R-UT), Lieberman (D-CT), Hutchinson (R-AR) and Schumer (D-NY) as S.2869 and is focused upon two areas in which state or local regulations often interfere with religious liberty - land use regulation and institutionalized persons. 

S.2869 will enable synagogues and other houses of worship, often harassed under the pretext of zoning laws, to get a fairer hearing when they seek to construct or relocate a facility for religious use. It will allow prisoners and other institutionalized persons to have access to religious articles and services.

This new legislation has been drafted with the most recent Supreme Court decisions in mind, so that it will withstand constitutional scrutiny.

It is supported by a broad coalition of religious communities and follows on a broader version of religious liberty legislation passed the House of Representatives last July by a vote of 306 to 118. The narrower, Senate version, of this bill enjoys broad support from religious organizations and civil rights groups of all stripes. There are those, particularly on behalf of local land use and correctional officials, who are working to defeat this legislation.

We need the U.S Senate to take up this measure prior to its August recess. Please contact your U.S. Senator as soon as possible to convey your opinion on this critical legislation.

Why We Need this Legislation; One Shul's Story