FRC Action Praises Presidential Candidates for Pledging Support to the First Amendment Defense Act

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FRC Action, the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council, has joined together with Heritage Action for America and American Principles Project, to invite each of the candidates running for President to sign the following pledge:

"If elected, I pledge to push for the passage of the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) and sign it into law during the first 100 days of my term as President."

FADA would prohibit the federal government from penalizing people for their personal, moral or religious beliefs on natural marriage in federal employment, grants, contracts, tax treatment, and other programs. It also protects individuals or entities that believe, teach or establish in codes of conduct that sexual intimacy is reserved for natural marriage.

FRC Action President Tony Perkins commented:

"I commend the ten presidential candidates who have signed the pledge or have publicly stated support for legislation that simply protects Americans from being punished by the government for holding a belief in natural marriage.

"Our future President, whoever he or she may be, has an important part to play in making FADA a reality in the first 100 days of the new Administration but Congress still has a responsibility in 2016 and beyond.

"Every day the American people open their newspapers and read about how their fellow citizens are becoming targets of political correctness. This is why candidates who haven't given into political correctness are being rewarded in the polls. Values voters who make up nearly half of the GOP recognize that our nation is in desperate need of a president who respects what the Constitution plainly states about religious freedom.

"The First Amendment Defense Act reflects our nation's history of recognizing, respecting and protecting the moral and religious beliefs of people and faith-based organizations. No person or nonprofit should lose tax exempt status, face disqualification, lose a professional license or be punished by the federal government simply for believing what President Obama believed just three years ago, that marriage is the union of a man and a woman," concluded Perkins.

So far, six candidates have signed the pledge: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dr. Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA).

Four candidates did not sign the pledge but have expressed public support for FADA: Donald Trump, former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).

SOURCE Family Research Council Action