Located just two blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and across the street from the Hart Senate Office Building, BJC works closely with Congress in church–state matters.
Some of what we do makes the news; much of our impact, however, takes place behind the scenes. In any given legislative session, we may lead congressional briefings, meet directly with lawmakers and their staffs, analyze new legislation, testify at hearings or build broad advocacy coalitions to sustain religious liberty.
With Congress

BJC was founded on the principle of religious liberty for all, including people of every faith and those who do not claim a religious tradition. BJC supports the Save Oak Flat Act and the NO BAN Act.
The bipartisan Save Oak Flat Act would keep an Indigenous sacred space currently within the boundaries of Tonto National Forest protected from total destruction by a foreign mining operation.
The NO BAN Act would add religion as a protected category in the Immigration and Nationality Act and add important accountability measures if there are any future immigration bans. It passed the House with bipartisan support (April 21, 2021), and we are awaiting action in the Senate.
These projects are two of many BJC undertakes to defend religious minorities.
RELATED
- Visit our website page about our work to save Oak Flat, including our support of the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act (H.R. 1351) in the 118th Congress.
- BJC-led coalition urges President Biden to protect sacred Oak Flat from devastating mining operations (July 22, 2021)
- Save our church from destruction: Chairman Terry Rambler of the San Carols Apache Tribe on Oak Flat (July 13, 2021)
- NO BAN Act passes House, moving forward new protections for faith freedom (April 2021)
- Biden reverses travel ban on first day in ‘victory for faith freedom’ (Jan. 21, 2021)
- A step forward in stopping anti-Muslim policies: NO BAN Act passes House (July 22, 2020)
- BJC supports the NO BAN Act: As Trump expands the travel ban, remember this policy’s roots: Unconstitutional anti-Muslim bias (Jan. 31, 2020)
- Repeal blasphemy laws — learn more about supporting H.Res. 512 and S.Res. 458 (PDF handout)
- Reintroduced Freedom of Religion Act Would Bar Religious Test for Entry to U.S.
- Amanda Tyler comments on SCOTUS travel ban ruling (Video)
- Gurwin Ahuja of the National Sikh Campaign and Know Your Neighbor (Podcast)
Proposals to use public dollars for tuition or other expenses at private, often religious, schools pop up frequently in state and federal bills. BJC has long worked with a number of religious, public education, and civil liberties groups to oppose any kind of publicly funded voucher program. Simply put, religious teachings should be paid for by voluntary contributions, not through compulsory taxation. Vouchers violate the freedom of conscience of taxpayers, who have the right to insist that the government remain neutral in matters of faith. In addition, for any religious academy that might benefit financially, government funding comes with strings attached—regulations or pressures that could threaten the private school’s religious independence and purpose.
- Religious liberty in public schools (Printable PDF)
- Strong public schools fight Christian nationalism by Jennifer Hawks (March 1, 2023)
- Public schools getting short shrift (again) in coronavirus relief package by Jennifer Hawks (August 4, 2020)
- Our Partner – The National Coalition for Public Education
- Voucher-funded religious education: A threat to religious liberty by Jennifer Hawks
- America’s public schools protect religious liberty. We should all be #PublicSchoolProud by Amanda Tyler
- 5 ways public schools protect religious liberty for all by Jennifer Hawks (for EthicsDaily.com)
- School vouchers threaten religious autonomy by Jennifer Hawks
- Voucher debate reflects important lines to be drawn in protecting religious freedom by Holly Hollman

In countries around the world, laws that criminalize religious dissent stifle religious expression and undermine human rights. They are often used to silence religious minorities and punish political opponents, fostering religious intolerance, discrimination and violence. In December 2020, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate passed bipartisan resolutions that call for the State Department and the administration to prioritize the repeal of such laws in foreign policy. BJC supported both measures (H. Res. 512 and S. Res. 458). These laws still exist in more than 80 countries, so the work continues as we stand with our global neighbors seeking faith freedom for all.
RELATED
- Learn more about H.Res. 512 and S.Res. 458 (PDF handout)
- U.S. House supports international religious freedom resolution by Jennifer Hawks (December 7, 2020)
- Read BJC’s testimony to Congress supporting H.Res. 512 (January 28, 2020)
- Lynn Brinkley shares about meeting with congressional staff to discuss the repeal of blasphemy laws
BJC is a leading voice in fighting the current administration’s various attempts to repeal the “Johnson Amendment” — the provision in the tax code that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from partisan campaigning. We believe this law is critical because it allows houses of worship and other religious charities to engage issues and carry out their missions without the political pressure and additional dangers that come with endorsing and opposing candidates, including turning their offering plates into political slush funds. More than 4,700 faith leaders, 100 denominational groups, and 5,500 charities agree. So far, our efforts have preserved the Johnson Amendment. But, the battle continues.
RELATED
- Community Not Candidates
- Protecting the Johnson Amendment
- Faith Organization Letter Opposing Politicization of Houses of Worship (PDF)
- Charitable nonprofits in support of nonpartisonship
- Supporting the Johnson Amendment (PDF)
- Amanda Tyler’s Congressional testimony on the Johnson Amendment (PDF)
- Pastor Stephen Cook on supporting the Johnson Amendment (Podcast)
- NPR’s On Point: Amanda Tyler on the Johnson Amendment (radio program)
- “Trump vowed to destroy the Johnson Amendment. Thankfully, he has failed” (The Washington Post op-ed by Amanda Tyler and Rabbi David Saperstein)
It’s a well-known adage that government money comes with “strings attached.” It’s also a constitutional principle that government must not advance religion, and therefore cannot directly fund it. For example, when Congress offers disaster relief through FEMA, are churches eligible for those funds? BJC says no, taxpayers should not be forced to build — or rebuild — churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship. Should a Christian nonprofit in South Carolina participate in a federally-funded foster-care program, even though it will only work with Protestant families? BJC says that’s crossing the line — government-funded services must be available to all regardless of religion. Delicate issues will continue to arise, and BJC supports the kinds of laws and regulations that protect religious liberty rights of beneficiaries while permitting the government to partner with faith-based organizations to meet its secular interests.
RELATED
- The COVID-19 stimulus packages and houses of worship (April 2020)
- BJC files comments on proposed regulations eliminating beneficiary protections (February 2020)
- New Executive Order Undercuts Key Protections by Amanda Tyler
- Natural disasters don’t justify government funding of faith-based organizations by Holly Hollman
- Protecting religious liberty and preventing discrimination in government-funded partnerships by Holly Hollman
- Trinity Lutheran Church: Decidedly narrow, deeply troubling by Holly Hollman