Slotkin joins Cruz, Knott, Suozzi in leading federal buffer zone bill

Senator Elissa Slotkin and Representatives Brad Knott and Tom Suozzi, alongside Senator Ted Cruz, introduced the Right to Worship Act on Thursday. The federal legislation would establish a 100-foot buffer zone around houses of worship, prohibiting activity that disrupts or impedes access to scheduled religious services during those times, as well as in a one-hour period before and after services.

The bill defines prohibited conduct as activity that "meaningfully interferes with the ability of people to participate in the scheduled religious service, to the extent that the conduct causes a substantial interruption to the service's normal operation" Or "unreasonably hinders or deters a person from entering a house of worship, or threatens or intimidates a person, in a manner that prevents participation at a scheduled religious service." The legislation includes escalating civil fines for repeated offenses and permits civil suits by affected individuals or state and federal attorneys general. It carves out protections for permitted demonstrations conducted under reasonable time, place and manner restrictions.

The bill addresses incidents of violence and harassment at Jewish institutions nationwide. Rather than requiring advance disclosure of worship schedules, it defines scheduled services as those observably underway, imminently beginning or concluding based on congregant gatherings, or regularly occurring services of which the defendant had actual knowledge or was notified about.

"Today, many Americans are unable to worship without fear of harassment, assault, or other forms of intimidation," Knott said. "The Right to Worship Act protects peaceful speech while restoring essential protections for Americans by empowering worshippers against those who seek to intimidate them."

Suozzi said, "I dont think that a person should have to show particular courage just to pass a gauntlet to attend a religious service." He emphasized that while the bill does not discourage protest, "I dont want to encourage a protest such that it makes it uncomfortable for someone to walk into their religious service or to bring their children to a religious service."

Cruz stated, "The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to freely exercise their faith, and Congress has a duty to ensure that guarantee is met. In recent years, we have seen organized acts of hate meant to disrupt and deny that right, which have been untenably defended as speech."

The bill was developed in large part by Hudson Bay Capital CEO Sander Gerber and Moshe Davis, former director of the New York City Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. Gerber's father's Ann Arbor synagogue has faced weekly antisemitic demonstrations during Shabbat services for more than two decades.

"This issues been plaguing my father and the family for many years, and its a start, the Congress taking action to correct problems that local municipalities dont have the infrastructure to deal with," Gerber said.

Davis stated, "I am proud of Senators Cruz and Slotkin and Representatives Knott and Suozzi, who stepped up today to protect the right to worship. The Right to Worship Act is the product of serious thought and deliberation, and it is the right way to address the disruptions and intimidation we have seen outside houses of worship across the country."

Suozzi described the measure as a compromise balancing free speech and religious freedom, noting the bill targets persistent, disruptive conduct. "This is not about people who are standing nearby and holding a sign, standing there quietly. This is about people yelling and screaming or people who are doing it week after week after week after week only at the religious service."

Suozzi expressed confidence the legislation can pass before year's end given bipartisan support. Gerber estimated a 70 percent chance of passage.

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler. It is supported by numerous organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Orthodox Union, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federations of North America, Islamic Society of North America, Hindu American Foundation, United Sikhs, and others.

The ADL documented more than 530 incidents of harassment at synagogues last year. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said, "No one should have to push through a hostile crowd or shout over a bullhorn in an attempt to pray." He called the bill "a critical bipartisan solution."