The House : Religious Sensitivity
The House adopted, 224 for and 189 against, an amendment to prevent spending on a private program that trains Foreign Service officers in “religious sensitivity.” This killed the State Department’s plan to spend $50,000 in fiscal 1986 and 1987 to send diplomats to the New York City program, which is conducted by the Appeal to Conscience Foundation, for instruction in Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism and other religions.
Foreign Service officers have been attending the program for several years. But government money has not been used to defray the foundation’s operating costs.
Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said, “We do not need to spend taxpayers’ money on this program,” which he said involves an overlap of church and state.
Opponent Bill Green (R-N.Y.) said the expenditure would help U.S. diplomats serve more effectively in the Middle East and other areas where disputes frequently stem from religious differences.
Members voting yes wanted to block the expenditure.
How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dixon (D) x Rep. Dymally (R) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Levine(D) x Rep. Lungren (R) x
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