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Hawley Calls for Release of Investigation into DoD Denial of Vax Mandate Religious Exemptions

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Acting Inspector General Sean O’Donnell calling on him to release all information related to his office’s investigation into DoD’s refusal to grant servicemembers religious exemptions to DoD’s Covid vaccine mandate.

On June 2, 2022, Inspector General O’Donnell’s office reportedly sent Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin a memo raising serious concerns about DoD’s processes for reviewing servicemembers’ requests for...

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Hawley Leads Letter Demanding Blinken Reinstate Nigeria to Religious Freedom ‘Concern’ List For Violence Against Christians

Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to immediately redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. Recent acts of violence targeting Nigerian Christians have underscored the deteriorating state of religious freedom in the country. Joining Senator Hawley's letter are Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.),Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).

"Religiou...

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Hawley Leads Letter to Blinken Demanding Answers on Nigeria's Removal from Religious Freedom Violators List

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding answers on why Nigeria was removed from the State Department's list of Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and requesting they be placed back on the list. 

Senator Hawley was joined by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) 

"Religious people...

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Hawley Demands HHS Reinstate Religious Liberty Protections, Answers on Secret Rollback

Following the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) November 24 decision to rescind the HHS Office of Civil Rights’ authority to affirmatively protect Americans’ conscience rights pursuant to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Senator Hawley penned a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding he reinstate the protections and provide answers on why the policy was rolled back.

“As President Clinton remarked when signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, religious...

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Senator Hawley: Biden Vaccine Mandate Shows Contempt for Religious Liberty, Rescind Guidance Immediately

Today U.S. Senator Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to co-chairs of the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce – the Office of Personnel Management Director, Kiran Ahuja; General Services Administrator, Robin Carnahan; and Covid-19 Response Coordinator, Jeff Zients – demanding answers on President Biden’s vaccine mandate, which fails to provide adequate safeguards for the sincerely held religious beliefs of federal employees and displays clear contempt for religious liberty.

President Biden’s vaccine...

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Senators Hawley, Lee Demand EEOC Rescind Guidance Based on “Extreme and Partisan” Interpretation of Bostock Decision

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) demanded Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Charlotte Burrows immediately rescind an extreme, partisan guidance document on employment discrimination. The Senators write the EEOC’s “Protections Against Employment Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity” document promotes a radical interpretation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bostock decision and was issued unilaterally by the Biden-appointed chair, in...
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Senator Hawley Calls on U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to Consider Adding Canada to Watch List

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urging the commission to consider adding Canada to its watch list in response to the country’s crackdown on religious freedom. In the letter, Senator Hawley cites recent instances of Canadian pastors being arrested and jailed for holding worship services that do not comply with strict COVID-19 restrictions.
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Senator Hawley Reacts to SCOTUS Ruling on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia

The #SCOTUS decision in Fulton sends a clear message: government cannot discriminate against churches & religious groups on the basis of their faith. Government can’t treat secular groups better than religious ones. No discrimination! But it was also a missed opportunity to overrule Smith. The Smith decision was wrong the day it was decided and should be overruled
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Senator Hawley Leads Effort to Condemn Violence Against Jews, Anti-Israel Rhetoric from Politicians and Media

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a resolution condemning hatred and violence against Jews, denouncing anti-Israel rhetoric from elected officials and the media, and reaffirming that Jews must be treated with dignity and respect. Senator Hawley’s resolution has received support from the Republican Jewish Coalition and the Family Research Council. It is cosponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John...
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Hawley Asks DOJ to File Suit Against Unconstitutional Restrictions on Houses of Worship

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr urging him to immediately file suit in federal court to protect religious liberties in states placing unconstitutional restrictions on houses of worship. Senator Hawley writes that a number of states are violating the First Amendment in strictly limiting attendance at religious services while allowing other businesses, like restaurants and gyms, to operate at up to 50 percent capacity.
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