I wanted to update you on a troubling provision in the economic stimulus package that received a lot of attention in the past week.

As you know, there was a provision in the Senate version that discriminated against religious activity by barring universities and colleges that accepted stimulus funds for renovation and repair from permitting religious groups and organizations from using those facilities.

We heard from many of you who understood the discriminatory nature of this provision.  

As you may know, the Senate voted and approved an economic stimulus package yesterday by a vote of 61-to-37.  The version that was approved underwent dramatic budget-cutting representing billions of dollars cut from a wide variety of programs that were eliminated from the final version that was approved by the Senate.  Among those programs cut, billions of dollars for colleges and universities, including the discriminatory provision that we opposed.

It’s unfortunate that the Senate lacked the courage to remove this provision because of its discriminatory nature.  At the same time, though, we’re pleased it was eliminated - even if for budget-cutting reasons - from the final package that was approved.

Now, budget conferees are working to reconcile that Senate-approved version with the measure already passed by the House.  What comes out of this process will be the final version that ultimately will be signed into law by President Obama.  It’s our hope that this discriminatory provision will never see the light of day in this final version.  We will keep you posted on developments.