BATON ROUGE, LA - Attorney General Jeff Landry has joined Louisiana to a
coalition of 12 states standing in the gap against erosion of religious
liberties.
In December, the United States Department of Labor
issued a rule to protect religious belief, practice, and expression in the
federal contracting process. Upon the transition of power, the Biden
Administration refused to defend the rule from legal attacks – prompting Attorney
General Landry to join last night’s intervention in NY v. DOL.
"Religious liberty is a foundational American
principle," said Attorney General Landry. "I have always worked to
protect this fundamental right, and I will not stand by as the Biden Administration
refuses to defend it."
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson enacted
nondiscrimination requirements on federal government contractors and
subcontractors. In 2002, President George W. Bush amended them to exempt
religious organizations from some of the nondiscrimination requirements.
However, neither explained how to determine whether an organization qualified
for the exemption.
As stated in today’s filing, the rule makes "clear
that religious organizations are not disfavored in government contracting and
they need not decide between following their religion and contacting with the
federal government." The filing goes on to say: "Without
intervention, there will be no party in this litigation to defend the
challenged regulation."
"This rule provides needed clarity to Louisiana
entities that vie for contracts with the federal government," added
Attorney General Landry. "While Joe Biden may not believe religious
liberties are worth his Administration’s time, my colleagues and I will continue
to fight for this indispensable American value."
The intervention was filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of New York by Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas,
and West Virginia.