Collins’ amendment would ensure U.S. military could attend religious services

Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the only military chaplain serving in Congress, on July 14 introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 that would level the playing field among U.S. military service members to attend religious services and gatherings.

“This amendment will guarantee that our men and women in uniform are able to freely exercise the very freedoms they fight to protect each and every day,” said Rep. Collins.

Specifically, the amendment would require that the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the secretaries of the military departments “not issue any guidance, order, or regulation related to public health that restricts service member attendance at religious services or gatherings if such similar guidance, order, or regulation does not exist for other activities or gatherings,” according to the text of the proposal.

Introduction of the amendment followed a recent ban issued by the U.S. Navy, since reversed, that prohibited service members from attending indoor religious services due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the risk of being court-martialed as punishment.

“While we can all agree that the health and safety of our troops is critical during the ongoing public health crisis, singling out religious gatherings while allowing other activities and unrestricted social gatherings to take place is unlawful,” Rep. Collins said.