H.R. 343 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 343 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 22, 2013 Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to ensure that every military chaplain has the prerogative to close a prayer outside of a religious service according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience. 1. Protection of the religious freedom of military chaplains to close a prayer outside of a religious service according to the dictates of the chaplain’s conscience (a) United States Army Section 3547 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) If called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, a chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience. . (b) United States Military Academy Section 4337 of such title is amended— (1) by inserting (a) before There; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) If called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, the Chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the Chaplain’s conscience. . (c) United States Navy and Marine Corps Section 6031 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) If called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, a chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience. . (d) United States Air Force Section 8547 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) If called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, a chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience. . (e) United States Air Force Academy Section 9337 of such title is amended— (1) by inserting (a) before There; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) If called upon to lead a prayer outside of a religious service, the Chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the Chaplain’s conscience. .