BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is applauding the Trump Administration for creating a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). 

“As someone who has worked to protect the First Amendment rights of all, I applaud President Trump for taking action to protect religious freedom and conscience rights,” said General Landry. “I am grateful that Louisiana doctors and nurses now have an agency dedicated to restoring federal enforcement of our Nation’s laws that protect their moral convictions.”

The creation of the new division will provide HHS with the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom, the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights.

“Healthcare workers should not be forced to participate in abortions, sterilizations, or assisted suicides,” added General Landry. “These people of faith should not be targeted, bullied, or coerced into procedures that violate their conscience or religious beliefs.”

General Landry also praised the Trump Administration for today rescinding Obama-era guidelines that restricted states’ ability to take certain actions against providers offering abortion services. 

“As an advocate for states’ rights – I am glad President Trump is restoring flexibility for states to establish reasonable Medicaid provider standards,” concluded General Landry. “And as the Attorney General of one of our Nation’s most pro-life states, I am thrilled to have a President who reflects the feelings of the majority in Louisiana.

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