{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-highlights-broad-local-support-bipartisan-bicameral-buffer-zone-bill", "Suozzi Highlights Broad Local Support for Bipartisan, Bicameral Buffer Zone Bill", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Thomas R. Suozzi", "S001201", "suozzi.house.gov", "suozzi", "https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cExercising your right to worship should not require you to exhibit particular courage as you enter your synagogue, church, mosque, temple, mandir, or gurdwara,\u201d said Congressman Suozzi. \u201cI will always stand up for people\u2019s right to protest peacefully, but attendees of religious services should not be harassed, threatened, intimidated, or targeted for practicing their faith. I am proud to lead this bipartisan and bicameral Right to Worship Act that both protects free speech and the freedom to worship.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe breadth of support for the Right to Worship Act is very gratifying. So many groups recognize the horrifying reality that the threat to the freedom to not unique to any one faith or congregation. Every religious community feels it, which is why this bill will protect everybody,\u201d Suozzi continued. \u201cI\u2019m proud to stand with such a broad coalition of faith leaders united behind this essential legislation to safeguard the right to worship for every religious community on Long Island, in Queens, and across America.\u201d\n\nCongressman Suozzi\u2019s Right to Worship Act follows his earlier introduction of the SACRED Act in April 2026. Suozzi worked with colleagues in both parties and chambers to build bipartisan, bicamerical support for his buffer zone legislation, introducing the Right to Worship Act in the House with Congressman Brad Knott (R-NC) last month alongside a companion measure in the Senate by Senators Cruz (R-TX) and Slotkin (D-MI). Suozzi also expanded the coalition of organizations supporting the legislation, securing the endorsement of more than 20 national groups across faiths for the Right to Worship Act.\n\nSuozzi was introduced today by Alan Mindel, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center.\n\n\u201cWe at HMTC at our core believe in the religious freedom of all citizens and recall the words of Goerge Washington that \u201cThe Government of the United States\u2026 gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,\u201d said Alan Mindel. \u201cThis bill grants necessary protections to houses of worship so as to protect the constitutional rights of freedom of religion granted to all Americans. In the current climate where people have been obstructed from entering their house of worship, this new law will allow each American, regardless of faith, to freely enter their church, synagogues, or mosque for their constitutionally protected right to pray, without obstruction or harassment. We applaud Congressman Suozzi and all the sponsors of this important piece of legislation.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Mr. Mindel, Suozzi was joined by ADL (Anti-Defamation League) New York/New Jersey Deputy Regional Director Brandi Katz Rubin, American Jewish Committee Long Island Director Eric Post, UNITED SIKHS community advocate Inderjeet Singh, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha representative Girish Patel, and Bishop Lionel Harvey. Additional organizational and congregational leaders, including rabbis and synagogue presidents, attended as well to show their support for the legislation.\n\nThe Right to Worship Act would establish a 100-foot, protest-free buffer zone around houses of worship during religious services, making it unlawful to knowingly disrupt or impede people from attending. The bill prohibits conduct that knowingly \u201chinders,\u201d \u201cdeters,\u201d \u201cthreatens,\u201d or \u201cintimidates\u201d worshippers trying to enter religious services and would impose civil fines for violations. It authorizes individuals, the U.S. Attorney General, and state attorneys general to sue violators. Peaceful expression protected by the First Amendment is excluded from the bill\u2019s prohibited activities.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition of groups representing a variety of faith communities, including:\n\nAnti-Defamation League (ADL)\n\nAgudath Israel of America\n\nAmerican Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC)\n\nAmerican Jewish Committee (AJC)\n\nBAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha\n\nCatholic League\n\nCoalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)\n\nCombat Antisemitism Movement (CAM)\n\nHadassah\n\nHindu American Foundation\n\nIslamic Society of North America (ISNA)\n\nJewish Federations of North America (JFNA)\n\nNorth American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church\n\nNational Association of Evangelicals (NAE)\n\nStandWithUs\n\nUJA-Federation of New York\n\nUnion for Reform Judaism\n\nUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union)\n\nU.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)\n\nUNITED SIKHS\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://suozzi.house.gov/media/press-releases/suozzi-highlights-broad-local-support-bipartisan-bicameral-buffer-zone-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4595012180507183, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}