Press Releases

 The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today for Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission v. American Humanist Association to determine whether the cross-shaped design on the Bladensburg Peace Cross World War I Memorial violates the Constitution. To combat continual, frivolous lawsuits regarding religious symbols and expression, U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04) introduced H.R. 1269, the History and Tradition Protection Act. The bill focuses specifically on lawsuits, like the one heard today, that pertain to the Establishment Clause.

JOHNSON RELEASED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

“For decades now, secularist organizations have engaged in an aggressive campaign of fear, intimidation and misinformation in their quest to rid the public square of all religious symbols, history and expression. Today, one of those attempts came before the Supreme Court. It is a shame that the Establishment Clause, intended to serve as a shield for people of faith, has been twisted and perverted into a powerful weapon used against them. Fortunately, we are fighting this in Congress. My legislation will help restore the First Amendment protection of our cherished religious freedom and traditions.

BACKGROUND

Johnson’s bill removes the financial incentives for activist groups to challenge religious symbols and expression by removing the potential for an award of monetary damages and attorney fees in Establishment Clause cases where a plaintiff complains of (1) any monument, memorial, statue, or other figure containing religious words, imagery or symbolism, (2) a public building containing religious words, imagery or symbolism, (3) the presence of religious words, imagery or symbolism in official seals and flags, or (4) religious expression in the context of the proceedings of any deliberative body.

Johnson also introduced the History and Tradition Protection Act in the 115^th Congress and obtained 41 cosponsors.