Congressman Tom Suozzi and Congressman Brad Knott, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Elissa Slotkin, introduced the Right to Worship Act in the House and the Senate, to 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.
This law would impose civil fines for violations and authorize 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’s prohibited activities.
“Exercising your right to worship should not require you to exhibit particular courage as you enter your synagogue, church, mosque, temple, mandir, or gurdwara,” Suozzi wrote in a statement. “I will always stand up for people’s right to protest peacefully, but attendees of religious services should not be harassed, threatened, intimidated, or targeted for practicing their faith.”
The Right to Worship Act is endorsed by:
ADL (Anti-Defamation League)
Agudath Israel of America
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA)
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of
America
Hindu American Foundation
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Jewish Federations of North America
UJA-Federation of New York
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (“Orthodox Union”)
United Sikhs
The Right to Worship Act would create a civil prohibition against “conduct that unreasonably hinders or deters a person from entering a house of worship, or that threatens or intimidates a person, in a manner that prevents participation at a scheduled religious service.”
The Right to Worship Act establishes a civil fine structure that increases with each offense, beginning at $2,500 and up to $10,000 per violation. State attorneys general may also pursue civil action on behalf of their constituents.
Suozzi’s introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral Right to Worship Act, follows his April introduction of the bipartisan SACRED Act in the House. The SACRED Act would make it a federal crime to intentionally intimidate, obstruct, or harass people exercising their right to religious worship within 100 feet of a place of worship, whether by threatening them, blocking their path, or approaching them within 8 feet for the purpose of harassment or intimidation.
