Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – welcomed a legal guidance memorandum issued Friday by the Department of Health & Human Services expanding the ability of employers to be exempt from providing certain health services in their employer-sponsored health plans on the basis of the employer’s religious or moral objections. HHS issued the policy to implement an executive order issued by President Trump at a Rose Garden ceremony on May 4, 2017.

Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament stated:
“The Orthodox Union has long advocated for the most expansive protection of religious liberty for all Americans. The Trump Administration’s decision to expand the conscience exemptions in the Affordable Care Act is consistent with the long-standing American tradition of trying to avoid infringements upon religion as much as possible. The Obama Administration’s refusal to utilize other methods to ensure women’s access to certain healthcare services ignored this sensible approach and stoked unnecessary controversy. The new guidance is a return to the proper balance of valuable concerns.”

Orthodox Union President Mark (Moshe) Bane stated:
“The new regulations are good news for all Americans. Religious freedom is a fundamental right for all, so when it is threatened for some, it is threatened for all.”