Conaway Praises Four Bills that will Strengthen our Values
Washington,
Sep 29, 2006 -
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four more pieces of legislation to continue with the American Values agenda: the Public Expression of Religion Act, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act, and the Private Property Rights Implementation Act.
The Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005 (H.R. 2679) allows Americans to better defend the symbols and expressions of our nation's religious heritage. Under current law, local and state governments can be ordered to pay attorney's fees in cases where they are being sued for any public display of religion, such as having a Nativity Scene in front of city hall. State and local governments, simply cannot afford to go to trial with the prospect of paying the plaintiff's attorney fees. By only allowing injunctive relief, H.R. 2679 will help ensure that state and local governments, along with the federal government and its agencies, have the ability to defend themselves in court.
“When our Founding Fathers passed the First Amendment, their intent was to prevent the government from coercing people to become members of a particular religion, not to remove all expression of religion from public life,” said Conaway, an ordained Deacon in the Baptist Church. “Unfortunately, today certain individuals and interest groups are distorting the meaning of the First Amendment by using provisions of federal law to force state and local governments to remove any constitutional displays of religion. These cases should be settled in a court of law, and those who wish to defend their Constitutional rights should have the chance to go to court without feeling the effect of a costly lawsuit.”
The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (S. 403) makes it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines to have an abortion with the intent of evading parental consent or parental notification laws in the minor’s home state. The bill also requires abortion providers in interstate abortions to provide notification of the minor’s decision to the parents or legal guardian 24 hours before the abortion is performed. Each of these federal crimes will carry penalties of a $100,000 fine or one year of jail, or both.
Conaway went on to say, "This legislation is intended to protect children from making uninformed decisions and from coercion at a vulnerable time in their lives. This will help ensure that parents are involved in their child’s decision and protect minors from being exploited.”
Another bill, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) Modernization and Reform Act, was endorsed by many strong defenders of Second Amendment rights, including the National Rifle Association (NRA).
“This legislation completely revises the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms,” said Conaway. “Currently, for most violations, license holders either get a warning or their license is revoked. This legislation provides a middle ground. Violators will receive fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, and license revocation for serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals.”
H.R. 4772, the Private Property Rights Implementation Act, will allow property owners with federal takings claims to have their cases decided in federal court without first pursuing a wasteful and unnecessary litigation detour, and possible dead-end, in state court. It is supported by all major property rights organizations, and by the National Association of Home Builders.
“The Supreme Court held that the Constitution allows the government to take private property from one citizen and give it to a large corporation,” said Conaway. “This legislation acts to correct that awful decision and to protect the property rights of all Americans.”
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