Activities At-A-Glance
Legislative and Policy Updates
-
Pressure to move Christian-nation Resolution.
May 2008
Action Alert: Stop revisionist Christian nation House Resolution 888
Randy Forbes (R-VA), the sponsor of H.Res. 888, has been working to move his Christian-nation resolution out of committee. In April, Rep. Forbes sent a letter to Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chair of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urging action on the resolution. Thus far Rep. Waxman has not succumbed to pressure. Rep. Forbes has also promoted his legislation with the House Values Action Team, a group formed in 1998 to advance conservative religious social issues in the House of Representatives.
If you have not contacted your Representative to oppose H.Res. 888, please take action now at the link above. -
Honaker nomination blocked.
Action Alert: Oppose nomination of Richard H. Honaker to U.S. District Court for Wyoming
Key members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have provided us guarantees that Richard H. Honaker's nomination will not be allowed to move forward. Statements by Honaker clearly demonstrate that his religious beliefs would take precedence over the U.S. Constitution, making him an unfit appointee to a lifetime judicial seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. (Also, through creative legislative procedures, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will prevent the president from making any additional recess appointments to the federal courts for the remainder of his term.)
Although Honaker's nomination is currently blocked, it is still important that you let your Senators know that Honaker and similar appointments are unacceptable. If you have not already done so, please take action now at the link above. -
D.C. voucher program up for renewal.
NCPE letter with Coalition sign-on (.pdf)
Coalition letter to Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton
Coalition position paper: Tuition vouchers for religious schools
An ill-conceived federal school voucher program funding tuition to religious schools for students in the District of Columbia is scheduled to expire this September. President Bush has been organizing support to reauthorize the program and has inserted increased funding for the program in his fiscal year 2009 budget. The Secular Coalition for America is working with our allies in the National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) to lobby members of Congress and elected officials in the District of Columbia to ensure that this program is not extended. -
Faith-Based Initiatives should end with Bush presidency.
Coalition position paper: Faith-based initiatives
Coalition letter to House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC)
The Faith-Based Initiatives were created by Executive Order of President Bush, and the programs could easily end if the next occupant of the White House simply rescinds the orders. The Secular Coalition for America is working with our issue allies to educate elected officials and put pressure on the candidates to halt these programs. President Bush's scheme of tax-supported financial aid to his allied religious groups must end with the close of his term.
Recent Developments
-
The Secular Coalition is growing
Secular Coalition for America Grows to Nine Members, Adds New Staff, Gains More Donors and Activists (press release) -
American Association for Justice covers our efforts on the Workplace Religious Freedom Act
'Free expression' can come at high cost for some workers (offsite)
Workplace Religious Freedom Goes Too Far (letter to Congressional subcommittee)
Secular Coalition for America director Lori Lipman Brown is quoted on co-workers who proselytize: "[T]he people most likely to be harangued are nonbelievers. This is going to have a huge impact on the day-to-day workplace." Above are links to the full article and to the letter we wrote to the House Subcommittee considering this legislation.
On the Horizon
- June 9 is Lobby Day for Coalition supporters; training provided for citizen lobbyists Sign up by May 23
- See Lori Lipman Brown in D.C., Las Vegas, New York, Phoenix, Lake Hypatia, and more Full events schedule
Accolades for Allies
-
Jeremy Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation sue Department of Defense
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (offsite)
Army Specialist Jeremy Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense regarding the harassment that Hall faced when he declared himself an atheist while serving in Iraq. During that tour, Hall received numerous threats for his refusal to pray at a Thanksgiving dinner and for holding a sanctioned meeting of soldiers who shared his atheist beliefs. As this landmark lawsuit proceeds, the Secular Coalition for America commends Hall's courage and the efforts of MRFF to protect the rights of atheists and other nontheists in the military. For more information see the MRFF Web site, linked above. -
Matthew LaClair challenges biased textbooks
Secular Student Alliance (offsite)
Matthew LaClair, a board member of the Secular Student Alliance (a Secular Coalition for America founding member), is making news again -- this time by challenging his public school's American Government textbook. According to LaClair, it contains factual errors with a clear political bias about subjects such as evolution, global warming, and First Amendment rights. You may remember Matthew was in the news just a little over a year ago (including a New York Times article) when he exposed a teacher who had used his authority in the classroom to promote his personal religious beliefs. The Secular Coalition for America thanks Matthew for his courageous stands.
Stimulate the Economy, Preserve Secular Government
-
If your Social Security Number ends in 00 through 25...
Credit card donations
PayPal donations
U.S. Mail donations
To stimulate the economy, the federal government is now sending tax rebate checks to millions of Americans. If your social security number ends in 00 through 25, your check should arrive in May. When your tax rebate check arrives, please consider investing it in the Secular Coalition for America. You'll stimulate the economy, increase respect for our constituency, and preserve the secular character of our government, all with one contribution.
The Secular Coalition for America believes that the best economic stimulus is an investment in the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints. In March, when 80,000 jobs disappeared from the economy, the Coalition fought against this trend by hiring a second full-time lobbyist to represent your interests on Capitol Hill. And this month, yet another employee will be joining our ranks, doubling our staff in a matter of weeks.
The Coalition has also just welcomed a 9th member organization, the America Ethical Union, bringing thousands of new activists into our community. We've entered a phase of dramatic growth and opportunity, and you can help us reach even higher.
Your donation to the Secular Coalition for America allows us to ...
- continue our expansion, bringing the best and brightest staffers on board to advance our community's interests in Congress and the larger Washington policy community. [Our new lobbyist Sasha Bartolf, for example, comes to us with Congressional Quarterly credentials, opening new doors to us on Capitol Hill and beyond.]
- reach out to even more audiences across the nation to inform them about our vital work and encourage them to become active in the political process.
- fight government support of religious activities, proselytizing in the military, ultra-conservative judicial nominations, the war on science, medically inaccurate sex education, and more.
- promote respect for rational public policies, Americans without supernatural beliefs, and the freedom of conscience guaranteed by the First Amendment.
Your credit card, PayPal, or U.S. Mail donation of $300, $600, $1,200 or more would be especially helpful at this time. If you prefer a monthly pledge to a one-time gift, you may want to consider a recurring donation of $25, $50, or $100 through your credit card or PayPal. Thank you in advance for your active support of our important work!
Credit card donations
PayPal donations
U.S. Mail donations