Statement from Gov. Rick Perry on the passage of HB 3678, the Religious Viewpoint Anti-Discrimination Act:

Statement

"Freedom of religion should not be mistaken for freedom from religion and I want to thank the more than 100 members of the Texas House who voted to give religious expression in our schools the same protection as secular expression. This bill simply clarifies U.S. Supreme Court decisions, protecting schools from needless lawsuits and ensuring students can express their religious views without fear of intimidation. This was a vote for tolerance of diverse views in our education system so that students are not admonished for wishing a soldier overseas a ‘Merry Christmas', or for any other harmless forms of expression."

Source