Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, Third District Congressman Walter B. Jones will be joined by colleagues from the House and Senate and by some of the nation’s leading moral and spiritual leaders in calling for the passage of HR 235, the Houses of Worship Freedom of Speech Restoration Act.

Congressman Jones and Senators Brownback and Coburn will be joined by Congressmen Mike Pence of Indiana, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, and Eric Cantor of Virginia, along with leaders from the faith community from across the country, to call upon the House and Senate leadership to help get HR 235 passed during the 109th Congress.

If passed, HR 235 will allow America’s religious leaders to speak freely from the pulpit on the moral and political issues of the day. The bill has been re-introduced to the House of Representatives by Congressman Jones and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee, where it currently remains.

WHAT: Press conference on HR 235.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at 2:30 pm.

WHERE: 1324 Longworth House Office Building.

WHO: Congressman Walter Jones, Senator Tom Coburn, Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman Mike Pence, Congressman Joe Pitts, Congressman Eric Cantor, former Congressman and Civil Rights leader Rev. Walter Fauntroy, Bishop Anthony Muse, Pastor Ken Wilde, Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, Pastor Rod Parsley of the Center for Moral Clarity, Gary Cass, author of Gag Order and Director of the Center for Reclaiming America, and representatives from the Christian Coalition, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council, and Priests for Life.

**ALL MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.**

For additional information please contact Kristen Quigley in Rep. Jones’ office at (202) 225-3415.