AMMWEC backs bipartisan Right to Worship Act on Capitol Hill

AMMWEC joined lawmakers and faith groups on Capitol Hill in support of the Right to Worship Act, a bipartisan bill meant to protect people entering houses of worship during religious services. The proposal would set buffer zones, ban intimidation near places of worship, and allow civil remedies while preserving First Amendment-protected expression.

Why it matters: - The Right to Worship Act would add federal protections for people attending religious services. - Supporters say the measure is meant to reduce harassment, threats and intimidation outside houses of worship. - The bill is backed by leaders from multiple faith traditions, signaling broad cross-faith support for protecting religious freedom.

What happened: - The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council joined bipartisan congressional leaders and national faith organizations on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to support the Right to Worship Act. - Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Rep. Brad Knott, R-N.C., led the House-side press conference as co-sponsors. - The Senate companion is led by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., making the measure bipartisan and bicameral. - AMMWEC President Anila Ali spoke at the event and said religious freedom is a birthright for every American.

The details: - The bill would create a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship during religious services. - The measure would prohibit knowingly hindering, deterring, threatening or intimidating people seeking to attend services. - The proposal includes civil penalties and legal remedies. - The legislation would exclude peaceful expression protected by the First Amendment from prohibited conduct. - AMMWEC said it is among more than 30 national organizations endorsing the bill. - Supporting groups at the event included the Anti-Defamation League, National Association of Evangelicals, Jewish Federations of North America, Hindu American Foundation, UNITED SIKHS, American Jewish Committee, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Orthodox Union, Hadassah and Combat Antisemitism Movement. - Ali said no American should feel afraid to enter a church, synagogue, mosque, mandir or gurdwara.

Between the lines: - The coalition reflects an effort to frame worship-site safety as a shared civil rights issue rather than a partisan one. - By pairing free-speech protections with limits on intimidation, backers are trying to avoid a First Amendment clash while still creating enforceable guardrails. - AMMWEC’s involvement fits its wider work on religious freedom, interfaith cooperation and opposition to religiously motivated hate.

What's next: - The House and Senate versions of the Right to Worship Act will likely continue through the legislative process with support from a growing list of faith and advocacy organizations. - Backers are expected to keep pressing for broader congressional attention to threats around houses of worship. - The coalition may use the Capitol Hill event to build momentum for eventual committee action and votes.

The bottom line: - The Right to Worship Act is emerging as a bipartisan test of whether Congress can protect worshippers from intimidation without restricting peaceful protest.