This afternoon, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America applauded the House of Representatives’ approval of the Community Solutions Act (H.R.7) — bipartisan legislation designed to implement the President’s faith-based initiative.

Nathan Diament, public policy director for the Union, issued the following statement in the wake of the House debate and vote:

Today members of Congress approved legislation that is sensitive to constitutional and civil rights while trying to bring innovative methods to serving people in need.

Opening federal social service grant programs to previously excluded religious organizations is not a new initiative or even an exclusively Republican one. President Clinton signed four bills into law that allow religious social service providers to compete for specified grant streams on equal terms with secular providers. HR7 seeks to expand this principle of equal participation for religious groups to additional federal programs. The legislation is simultaneously sensitive to the constitutional and civil rights of individuals as well as faith-based organizations.

The UOJCA is pleased by the House vote today, and looks forward to the U.S. Senate taking up this legislation in a speedy and bipartisan fashion.