Faith Month

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, Americans across the country, led by Concerned Women for America, the Nation's largest public policy organization for women, and other faith-based organizations are celebrating April as Faith Month. I commend this noble effort calling all people of faith to join in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration of their faith.

The United States of America was born of the unanimous declaration that we are ``endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' based on ``the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God,'' ``appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,'' and acknowledging our ``reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'' We are a people of faith, which is why religious freedom is known as America's first freedom, as laid out in the Establishment and the Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment and also supports America's unique focus on freedom of expression, including in matters of faith.

America's Judeo-Christian founding promotes religious diversity and tolerance. Our motto, ``In God We Trust,'' further emphasizes the importance of faith in our Nation's founding. From our first President to the last, we have always acknowledged America's faith. President George Washington recognized ``it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'' More recently, President Joe Biden acknowledged Thanksgiving as a ``time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this Nation, and each other.''

Religious liberty serves to strengthen our country's appreciation of all peoples, regardless of faith. But eternal diligence is needed to preserve religious freedom. Attacks on religious liberty and people of faith continue to plague our Nation with some religious charities even being forced to betray the tenets of their faith in order to participate in certain government programs. We must actively reject all efforts to criminalize or cancel religious beliefs as somehow incompatible with our democracy.

Religious organizations in America have a rich history of charitable engagement by helping the sick, poor, and afflicted. They should be celebrated, not maligned for their contributions to improving our way of life. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 percent of Americans practice some type of religious faith. This rich, diverse religious heritage is to our credit and should be encouraged.

Therefore, I join millions of Americans during this Faith Month in celebrating their personal faiths freely and openly, with public displays and celebrations, including prayer and expressions of thanksgiving. In this manner, we can strongly reaffirm our commitment to the religious liberty principles of our founding.

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