Our nation was founded by individuals who held strong religious and moral convictions. The freedoms we enjoy now can be traced back to those convictions, including the fact that our rights as individuals, including the right to life, come not from any government, but rather from our Creator himself, and that the purpose of government is to protect those rights.
Since then, strong religious and moral convictions have been pervasive parts of American life, touching our homes, our schools, our work and our government. Phrases such as "one nation, under God" and "in God we trust" are not just catchy slogans. They are indicators of the extensive role that religious expression had played in the growth of the American nation.
While we need to be tolerant of those who do not share these beliefs, we must also make sure that the values held by communities, churches, and families are not infringed upon. I will continue to work to protect the traditional values that have made America strong for over 200 years.
Actions
*I am a member of the Congressional Pro Life Caucus and the Congressional Prayer Caucus.
*I voted in support of H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which prohibits the expenditure of federal funds for any abortion and prohibits federal funds from being used for any health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion.
*I am a cosponsor of H.R. 36, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban abortions, with limited exceptions, in the United States after 20 weeks post conception -- the point at which scientific evidence shows the unborn can experience great suffering. This legislation passed the House by a vote of 242-184.
*I am a cosponsor of H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act. This legislation would which would permit a health plan to decline coverage of specific items and services that are contrary to the religious beliefs of the sponsor, issuer, or other entity offering the plan or the purchaser or beneficiary without penalty.
*The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (S. 178) was signed into law on May 29, 2015. I was proud to support this bill and efforts in Congress to combat human trafficking. This comprehensive anti-human trafficking bill provides additional resources to law enforcement and service providers, helps to facilitate human trafficking investigations, criminalizes the demand side of this crime, and strengthens the existing federal criminal laws against trafficking. S. 178 contains a number of separate anti-human trafficking bills that were originally passed by the House Judiciary Committee and then by the House of Representatives, including the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act (H.R. 350), the Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (H.R. 159), and the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation (SAVE) Act (H.R. 285).