Supreme Court can save religious liberty for football coaches, and for all Americans

No right is more fundamental to our Constitution than the freedom of every American to live, work and worship in accordance with his or her faith. Yet religious liberty in America has never been in greater danger than it is today.

It seems like every few years left-wing organizations mount a new effort to purge the free exercise of religion from American society. A few years ago, they tried to force a small bakery owner to make a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage ceremony. Before that, the left sued to ban the display of the Ten Commandments on public property. Before that, they wanted to remove crosses and Christmas nativity scenes from town squares.

Now, the left is persecuting public employees who practice their faith anywhere but behind closed doors.

This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, a case in which high school football coach Joe Kennedy lost his job because he engaged in silent, personal prayers of thanks after football games. The Ninth Circuit Court not only upheld Coach Kennedy’s suspension – it suggested that getting rid of the coach was perhaps even constitutionally required, simply because his personal prayers occurred during work hours and could be seen by others. If the Ninth Circuit’s overt hostility to religious practice is allowed to stand, nearly all public employees would lose their right to religious expression, and millions of faithful Americans would be driven out of public life.

That’s why the conservative advocacy group I founded, Advancing American Freedom, joined Young America’s Foundation, Alliance Defending Freedom, and 69 additional organizations and leaders in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of Coach Kennedy. We argue that brief prayers of personal thanks are protected by the First Amendment, and that the Ninth Circuit’s ruling will severely curtail the private religious speech and freedom of public officials. We are asking our nation’s highest court to reverse the decision, take a firm stand in defense of religious liberty, and protect the God-given rights of every American citizen.

People of faith do not turn their devotion off and on like a light switch, and we must reject any attempt by the government to control private religious expression. In fact, many religious Americans enter public service as a way to live out the principles of their faith by serving others.

Under the Ninth Circuit’s reasoning, virtually any expression of religion by public employees would be prohibited. Your child’s teacher could be fired for bowing her head in silent prayer before lunch in the school cafeteria. Your friend who works at the DMV could lose his job for keeping a copy of the Koran visibly on his desk. A Jewish government employee might be asked to remove his yarmulke through the duration of each workday. Such things should never be allowed to happen in the Land of the Free.

The Ninth Circuit is flat wrong that public officials can be required to forego praying while performing the duties to which God has called them. As someone who has had the honor of serving in public office, I can say with absolute certainty that I could not have possibly done my job well without being on my knees, offering thanks and seeking wisdom each and every day.

Discriminating against Americans based on their faith is unconstitutional, unconscionable and un-American. Allowing such discrimination to stand would be a great tragedy for our nation, and would deal a devastating blow to the religious freedom that is the lifeblood of our Republic.

This article was published on FoxNews.com.

Advancing American Freedom Launches Third Phase of $10 Million Ad Campaign Urging a Return to American Energy Independence & Dominance

Advancing American Freedom (AAF) founder Mike Pence today announced the third phase of the organization’s $10 million ad campaign, which will feature three new ads targeting three Members of Congress.

The new ads highlight the stories of three Americans impacted by the radical energy policies of President Joe Biden and progressives in Congress. The six-digit ad buy will appear on cable and digital and urge constituents to contact their representatives and urge them to support policies highlighted in AAF’s Freedom Agenda that will restore American energy independence and set America on a path to energy dominance.

“In order to set the United States back on a path of energy independence, we need progressives in Congress to put hardworking American families before their radical energy agenda,” said Advancing American Freedom founder Mike Pence. “It’s time to demonstrate American leadership and unlock American opportunity by supporting American energy production that will lower prices at the pump and provide much need financial relief to the nation.”

The three new ads and the district they will run in are as follows:

“70 Miles”; Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03);
“Clueless”; Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03); and
“$80”; Rep. Angie Craig.

ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FILES AMICUS BRIEF IN LANDMARK IMMIGRATION CASE

Advancing American Freedom (AAF) founder Mike Pence today announced the filing of an amicus brief in Biden v. Texas. In its amicus brief, AAF argues that the Biden administration is purposely disregarding federal immigration law in its pursuit to release as many illegal aliens into the United States.

“After inheriting the most secure border in American history, President Biden plunged the nation into its worst border crisis ever and, by rescinding the Migrant Protection Protocols, found a way to make it even worse,” said AAF founder Mike Pence. “The Biden administration cannot be allowed to disregard our immigration laws in pursuit of its radical policy agenda, and AAF is proud to stand up to this blatant assault on the rule of law.”

AAF argues that federal law is clear when it states if “an alien who is an applicant for admission…is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to be admitted, the alien shall be detained” pending removal proceedings. Instead, the Biden administration sought to end the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) so that it can release more illegal aliens into the United States in violation of federal law.

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that it lacks the resources to detain illegal aliens in compliance with federal law, it has not demonstrated the exhaustion of available methods that could be used to comply with the federal law that mandates detention.

In fact, DHS asked Congress to reduce funding for immigration detention beds while it contends that it is impossible to comply with the statutory detention requirements.

Additionally, DHS has deliberately eliminated family detention capacity instead of increasing capacity to handle the influx of families illegally entering the United States. At least one such family detention facility was repurposed to house single adults when DHS could utilize other tools, such as expedited removal, to handle the influx of single adult aliens.

AAF further argues that if the Biden administration and DHS retained the expanded expedited removal program—instead of rescinding it—it could have resulted in the availability of additional bed space and reduced overall detention times, making it easier for DHS to comply with federal law.

Finally, by rescinding MPP, the Biden administration eliminated an effective policy that helped curtail the crisis at the Southern Border of the United States. The protocol was responsible for a massive reduction in the number of aliens unlawfully present in the United States—from May 2019 to September 2019, border encounters with Central American families decreased by approximately 80% and the number of aliens apprehended decreased by 64%, according to DHS. Under MPP, the immigration system was stronger and more efficient. Meritorious claims were processed more quickly, meaning relief was granted in a matter of months instead of years.

To view AAF’s amicus brief, click here.

VP Mike Pence joins the Young America’s Foundation at the University of Virginia

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PENCE And DANNENFELSER: Conservatives Can Save America From Decay With A Bold Pro-Life Agenda In 2022

Since the Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, more than 62 million unborn children in the United States have been aborted. In other words, nearly 20% of the U.S. population is gone — lives of incalculable promise were ended before they were born.

Unborn children have been segregated into a caste of second-class citizens devoid of the most basic human rights. Precious babies have lived outside the protection of our laws, at the mercy of a culture that devalues them, and an abortion industry that profits from their suffering.

Today, the Biden administration is continuing to advance abortion on demand at home, allowing foreign aid to be used for abortion overseas, and President Joe Biden has even announced his support for taxpayer funding of abortion.

In 2022, conservatives have a once in a lifetime opportunity to save America from decline and decay brought on by left-wing policies, and to build a true governing majority that could last for generations. But in order to win, conservatives must unite our movement around a bold, forward-looking agenda that offers a clear and compelling choice to the American people.

That’s why our advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has released a detailed Freedom Agenda developed with the help of nearly 50 of the brightest stars in the conservative movement.

The Freedom Agenda provides a clear roadmap for conservative leaders and candidates looking to connect deeply with the American people on their top priorities by encouraging conservatives to proudly embrace fundamental truths the left deems heresy. It is built upon the belief that Americans want to create more economic opportunity, restore American leadership on the world stage and are proud of traditional American culture and want to preserve it.

The Freedom Agenda encourages conservatives to embrace policies that will honor the God-given dignity of all people and restore the sanctity of human life to the center of American law.

First, the Freedom Agenda calls for ending federal taxpayer-funding for abortion once and for all, and reinstating the ban on funding for Planned Parenthood passed under the Trump-Pence administration. And to prevent liberal politicians like President Biden from erasing our progress, conservatives should pass a law permanently banning funding for abortions overseas.

Second, conservatives should work to end all federal funding for destructive fetal tissue research, which treats the bodies of aborted unborn children like a commodity. Instead, we should support ethical, non-destructive research using adult stem cells.

Finally, the Freedom Agenda calls for an end to the assault on faith-based adoption and foster care agencies that will only place children into families with one male father and one female mother. Conservatives should also work with state and local governments, churches and non-profit organizations to promote adoption, foster care, and crisis pregnancy centers.

Merging traditional conservative values with the successes of the Trump-Pence administration is a proven formula that will lead to extraordinary growth for our nation.

Today in America, what’s at stake is not just the outcome of future elections — what’s at stake is the very survival of the American nation. In 2022 and beyond, the American people will choose more than which party controls their government. Voters will decide whether their children and grandchildren stand tall as citizens of the freest nation on earth, or whether they are forced to live in the economic, moral and spiritual poverty of socialism.

The Freedom Agenda will help conservatives build a bigger, broader and bolder majority. Most importantly, it will help usher in a world where every child, born and unborn, is protected by law and cherished in life as a precious gift from God.

This op-ed was originally published in the Daily Caller.

ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM STATEMENT ON HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE HEARING

Advancing American Freedom Executive Director Paul Teller issued the following statement on today’s House Energy & Commerce hearing:

”Democrats and their radical progressive policies squandered American energy independence in less than one year by killing the Keystone Pipeline, ending drilling in ANWR, freezing oil and gas leases, and pushing destructive ESG disclosures, and they’ll spend today’s hearing blaming everyone but themselves.

”Instead of gaslighting American workers and job creators while the country suffers at the gas pump, Congress must take action to secure our energy future.

”Through its Freedom Agenda, Advancing American Freedom has proposed a number of detailed policies that will not only restore American energy independence, but also launch a new era of American energy dominance.”

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Pence’s New ‘Freedom Agenda’ Promotes Patriotic Education, Challenges Big Tech

Former Vice President Mike Pence announced what he calls a “Freedom Agenda” on Friday that includes policy proposals for border security, stopping Big Tech censorship, patriotic education, national security, and more.

“You can’t beat a program without a program,” Pence said on a conference call Friday sponsored by Advancing American Freedom, a conservative policy group. “We looked at what have been the ideas of the conservative movement from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, and we put them all in one place.”

Among the big items in the plan is promoting what it calls “patriotic education.”

“State and local jurisdictions should require high school students to pass testing on their knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Federalist Papers prior to graduation to ensure that high school students are graduating with a basic knowledge of America’s most important founding documents and ideals,” the plan states.

It also says American schools must reject racial quotas and set-asides, and calls teaching about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for judging people by the content of their character, while also teaching about abolitionist Frederick Douglass’ work.

“Oppose radical political indoctrination—including the teaching of anti-American racist ideologies like critical race theory—in our schools and universities (as well as businesses and government agencies),” the Freedom Agenda urges. “Support maximum curriculum transparency so that parents have all the information necessary to pick and monitor schools that best fit the needs of their families.”

Somewhat related to schools, Pence’s plan also calls for protecting women’s sports from gender politics. “Preserve and protect female athletic competition by ensuring that sports competitions are between those who share their God-given gender,” it says.

The plan further calls for reforming Big Tech “to align it with our democratic and free enterprise system.”

“Prevent censorship in the modern public square by requiring that internet companies live under the same liability framework as traditional print and broadcast media companies,” the plan says. “Advance free speech and end digital surveillance without meaningful consent. … Champion increased ownership and portability of private data.”

Pence noted in the call that The Heritage Foundation, the parent organization of The Daily Signal, released a seven-point plan, “Fighting for America’s Future,” a day earlier, and he encouraged more such plans.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released a separate 11-point plan. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., cautioned that Republicans should stick only to opposing Democratic President Joe Biden’s agenda.

“This is a pathway not just for winning elections, but for winning the hearts and minds of Americans,” the former vice president under Trump said of his 28-page Freedom Agenda. “We need to have a conversation about not just what’s wrong with the other side, but also the spirit of a freedom agenda.”

The plan calls for fortifying NATO allies, allies in the Western Hemisphere, and Israel. It also calls for the United States to stand strong against Russia, China, and Iran.

Pence said Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan signaled a green light to adversaries such as Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine and Chinese President Xi Jinping to invade Taiwan.

“Weakness arouses evil, and the weak leadership [from the Biden administration] has emboldened our adversaries,” he said.

The former vice president noted, “The Trump-Pence administration changed the national consensus on China to understand it is the leading threat to American security.”

The Pence plan also called for an end to federal taxpayer funding for abortion “once and for all,” as well as ending funding for Planned Parenthood. The plan also provides policy proposals for promoting adoption.

On border security, the plan calls for finishing construction of a southern border wall, deporting illegal alien criminals and gang members, and passing a nationwide ban on sanctuary cities.

For election reform, Pence said the country needs universal voter ID.

“Make in-person voting the primary method of voting,” adding that voting by mail “should be rare and only for a very limited set of circumstances, with clear guidelines and procedures for requesting, receiving, casting, validating, and auditing mail-in ballots.”

This article was published on the DailySignal.com.

A Freedom Agenda Is the Conservative Path to Victory

In just 14 months, Joe Biden has done more damage to our nation than any president in modern history. With inflation at a 40-year high, record-breaking illegal immigration, gas prices up 70 percent, and Biden now warning families to prepare for food shortages, the American way of life is under attack like never before. It is no surprise that the president’s approval rating has plummeted to an all-time low.

In 2022, conservatives have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save America from decline and decay brought on by progressive policies, and to build a true governing majority that could last for generations. But in order to win, conservatives must do more than criticize and complain — we must unite our movement around a bold, optimistic agenda that offers a clear and compelling choice to the American people.

Elections are about the future. Leftists would love nothing more than for conservatives to talk about the past — anything but the mess the Left has made of the present, or the disastrous future that awaits if it remains in power.

Conservatives must be relentlessly focused on the future if we hope to stop the radical Left from destroying this country. That’s why the advocacy group I founded, Advancing American Freedom, has released a detailed Freedom Agenda developed with the help of nearly 50 of the brightest stars in the conservative movement.

The Freedom Agenda provides a clear road map for conservative leaders looking to connect deeply with the American people on their top priorities. It is built upon the belief that Americans want to create more economic opportunity, want to restore American leadership on the world stage, and are proud of traditional American culture and want to preserve it.

Under the Freedom Agenda, conservatives should not hesitate to take bold stands in support of local law enforcement, tough sentences for violent criminals, and powerful border-security measures to shut down illegal immigration. Conservatives should demand that parents be given the right to choose where their children go to school, that schools embrace patriotic education rather than political indoctrination, and that participation in sports be determined by one’s gender at birth as a matter of fairness and common sense.

To preserve our God-given rights, the Freedom Agenda calls for cracking down on Big Tech censorship, adopting universal voter ID and limiting mail-in ballots to only the rarest of circumstances, and permanently ending taxpayer funding for abortion. Most importantly, it provides a framework to return the sanctity of life to the center of American law, and to preserve the right of all Americans to live, work, and worship according to their faith.

For America to be prosperous again, conservatives should work to extend the Trump–Pence tax cuts, restore American energy independence, and support reciprocal trade deals that bring jobs back home to America. At the same time, conservatives must move toward a merit-based immigration system that prioritizes the jobs and wages of American citizens.

Finally, the Freedom Agenda encourages conservatives to embrace policies that will restore American power and prestige in international affairs. As war rages in Eastern Europe, America must stand strong against Russian aggression and rally our Western allies to defend freedom. Conservatives must demand renewed military investments, including in cybersecurity and technology, to counter the growing threat posed by countries such as China and Russia. Finally, conservatives should work to revoke China’s Most Favored Nation trading status and maintain the tariffs imposed by the Trump–Pence administration.

Merging traditional conservative values with the successes of the Trump–Pence administration is a proven formula that will lead to extraordinary growth for the United States.

Today in America, what’s at stake is the very survival of our nation. We cannot afford to take our eyes off the task in front of us, or to be distracted by grievances of the past. In 2022 and beyond, the American people will decide whether their children and grandchildren stand tall as citizens of the freest nation on earth, or whether they are forced to live in the economic, moral, and spiritual poverty of socialism.

With the Freedom Agenda, conservatives can keep our eyes firmly fixed on the future and build a bigger, broader, and bolder majority that lasts for generations to come.

This was originally featured in the National Review.

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April 2022