Legislation led by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) would provide for the fair treatment of certain faith-based organizations and other charitable organizations and recipients of federal financial assistance.
The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act, H.R. 8117, would prevent federal agencies from conditioning tax benefits or funding eligibility on a religious organization’s willingness to modify its positions on marriage, sexual conduct standards, or gender identity policies, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Moore’s office.
“The Fair Treatment of Religious Organizations Act protects religious beliefs and practices and prevents the government from weaponizing tax-exempt status or federal funding eligibility against these organizations,” said Rep. Moore, who sponsored H.R. 8117 on March 26 alongside seven Republican original cosponsors, including U.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA).
“I’m immensely proud to represent one of the most religious and charitable states in the nation — and that overlap is no coincidence,” Rep. Moore added. “Churches across our state and country contribute billions of dollars to the economy by providing health care, housing, and a wide range of social services. They also strengthen our communities by helping Americans find purpose and meaning.”
If enacted, H.R. 8117 would amend Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit the IRS from considering a religious organization’s beliefs or practices concerning marriage, sexuality, or gender identity when making tax-related determinations.
The bill also would prohibit federal agencies from discriminating against religious employers in grants, contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, or cooperative agreements based on the organization’s religiously motivated employment decisions, the summary says.
Additionally, H.R. 8117 would provide that religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, and societies may not be disadvantaged for exercising their existing statutory rights to employ individuals who share the organization’s religious beliefs and to require employees to comply with religious standards of conduct, among other provisions.
The bill is supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Christian Employers Alliance, the American Principles Project, and the Christian Legal Society.