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WASHINGTON, January 20, 2023 — United States Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) today introduced the History and Tradition Protection Act — a bill to help protect religious expression in America by removing attorney fee awards in certain Establishment Clause cases.

“For decades, left-wing activists have pursued a relentless legal agenda to rid America of all religious expression and the cherished symbols of our Judeo-Christian heritage,” Johnson said. “Current law provides a perverse financial incentive of large attorney fee awards that encourage this radical agenda and compel plaintiffs to claim ‘offense’ and bring their endless lawsuits. My legislation will remove that incentive once and for all.”

Background on the legislation:

The legislation abolishes the award of monetary damages and attorneys’ fees in Establishment Clause cases where a plaintiff complains of any monument, memorial, statue, or other figure containing religious words, imagery or symbolism; a public building containing religious words, imagery or symbolism; the presence of religious words, imagery or symbolism in official seals and flags; or religious expression in the context of the proceedings of any deliberative body.

Congressman Johnson is the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference, a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, and a former constitutional law litigator who defended religious liberty in the courts for nearly two decades before his election to Congress.