Discriminate Against Atheists Act

Religious Freedom and Fairness Act (H.R. 8720)

Introduced by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) 

This bill amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to single out atheists for special, deprioritized treatment.

Preferential treatment for the religious, discrimination for atheists

• Asserting that “religiosity and increasing secularization has, in some parts of the world, led to some practicing theists facing greater discrimination, harassment, and threats”, the bill seeks to ensure that the federal government does not discriminate against any religious or non-religious group in the allocation of federal grants; however, it specifically prohibits preferential Federal grant treatment for atheist groups.  
• It prohibits funds from being used directly or indirectly to promote or advance non-theist or humanist ideologies or beliefs or to expand membership of non-theist groups or provided to any entity that has made public statements disparaging, infringing upon, or otherwise denigrating theistic belief.

Reporting on anti-religious sentiments

• It instructs State Department officials to document and report on “any perceived or actual anti-religious or anti-theist funding concerns” in grant programs.  
• It requires State Department diplomatic missions to provide funding to religious groups in the same proportion as funding provided to any atheist, agnostic, humanist, or other non-theist group in a foreign country.