H.R. 450 — Introduced in House

I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 450 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 11, 2017Mr. 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) Chaplain-Led programs Section 1789 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c): (c) If called upon to lead a prayer during a chaplain-led program referred to in subsection (a), a chaplain shall have the prerogative to close the prayer according to the dictates of the chaplain’s own conscience. . (b) 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. . (c) United States Military Academy Section 4337 of title 10, United States Code, 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. . (d) United States Navy and Marine Corps Section 6031 of title 10, United States Code, 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. . (e) United States Air Force Section 8547 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. . (f) United States Air Force Academy Section 9337 of title 10, United States Code, 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. .