Senate Clears Bill Linking Religious Freedom, Trade

The Senate has unanimously approved legislation promoting international religious freedom.

The measure, sponsored by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., requires the White House to take religious freedom into account when negotiating trade deals with other countries.

"Our greatest export is our American value. The dignity of each person, hard work, innovation, and liberty - that's what we send around the world. It has the greatest impact," Lankford said during a floor speech on the amendment.

The measure was added as an amendment to the overall negotiating objectives outlined in Trade Promotion Authority legislation. The Senate approved the amendment by a vote of 92-0.

If signed into law, it would be the first time in history that religious freedom considerations would be required for international trade discussions.

"We believe every person should have protection of the government to live their faith, not the compulsion of government to practice any one faith or to be forced to reject all faith altogether. It's one of the reasons that Americans are disturbed by the trend in our courts and military and public conversation," Lankford said.

"It's not the task of government to purge religious conversation from public life. It is the task of government to protect the rights of every person to live their faith and to guard those who choose not to have any faith at all," he said.