October 20, 1999

ORTHODOX UNION PLEASED BY LOTT PUTTING RLPA ON SENATE'S 'SHORT LIST'

Following up on a commitment stated last week to a leadership delegation
of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott announced today that he expects the Religious
Liberty Protection Act to be among those pieces of legislation the U.S.
Senate will act upon prior to adjourning for the balance of the calendar
year.  The "Orthodox Union," which has been working with a broad
coalition of partners for the passage of "RLPA," welcomed Senator Lott's
announcement.

Under current law, a state or local government may pass a law or
regulation that interferes with a citizen's ability to practice his or
her religion with little justification.  RLPA will require a government
to demonstrate that any religion burdening law is pursuant to a
compelling interest and is the means of addressing that interest in the
least burdensome manner.  Thus, RLPA will enable synagogues and other
houses of worship to get a fairer hearing when they seek a zoning
variance.  It will enable those who object on religious grounds to
"loyalty oaths" to seek and obtain jobs that would otherwise require
such oaths as a condition of employment.  It will, in short, protect
minority faiths and their adherents in a variety of situations.

Nathan Diament, director of the Orthodox Union Institute for Public
Affairs, stated that "Senator Lott's determination to bring RLPA to the
senate floor is very encouraging and we hope it is a sign that the right
of Americans to freely and fully exercise their religious rights is one
step closer to receiving full protection."

###

Comments?

• OU Commends House Committee For Vote On Religios Liberty Protection Act

• OU Makes Case to Senate Panel for Religious Liberty Legislation

• Infonet Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Group - An OU-IPA Action Alert

• OU Applauds President Clinton's Guidelines Protecting Religion in the Federal Workplace

• OU Applauds Federal Court Ruling Against Religious Discrimination in Educational Aide Assistance