Contact: Joe Hack, 202-225-6365; randyforbes.house.gov 

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that he and Congressman Mike McIntyre (NC-07) recently sent a letter to President Obama urging him to maintain religious hiring rights for faith-based organizations that perform contract work for the federal government; both Congressman Forbes and Congressman McIntyre serve as co-Chairmen of the Congressional Prayer Caucus.  Their letter was sent in response to recent pressure from a coalition of secular groups urging the President to overturn standing Executive Order 13279, which allows faith-based organizations that take religion into account when making employment decisions to perform federal contract work.

"Preserving the right of faith-based organizations to consider religious criteria in employment decisions is inextricably tied to our fundamental religious liberty.  Excluding faith based organizations from performing federal contract work significantly diminishes the potential number of government partners available to perform important national work.  Any decision to overturn the existing policy would serve as an affront to America's value system, which encourages like-minded individuals to unify in service to their community," said Forbes.

Currently, religious corporations such as hospitals, associations, educational institutions, or religious societies, are permitted to perform contract work for the federal government while also maintaining their faith-based hiring policies. Overturning Executive Order 13279 would prevent these organizations that engage in religious hiring practices from any form of contract or subcontract work with the federal government--even providing technical assistance or research concerning faith-based organizations and how the government can best work with them.  Recently, the Executive Director of The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships issued a statement responding to the ongoing dialogue about religious hiring rights for faith-based government contractors. 

The President, when pressed on the issue by a representative from the Secular Coalition for America at a town hall meeting on July 22, affirmed the existing policies. President Obama said the current framework strikes the right balance, but said the Administration would continue discussing the issue with faith-based organizations. In July, a group of 52 faith-based organizations sent a letter urging the President to preserve the current structure. Their letter was in contrast to a letter sent in June by groups opposing the religious hiring rights.

A copy of the letter sent by Congressman Forbes and Congressman McIntyre is available here.