Rep. Anne Northup supports faith initiative
President Bush’s initiative has raised eyebrows, but Northup agrees
From, The Kentucky Citizen Digest, July/August, 2001.

President George W. Bush has proposed a faith-based initiative (HR7) which will expand the opportunities for faith and community-based groups to compete for federal grants with other social service providers. The Kentucky Citizen sat down with U.S. Rep. Anne Northup who is cosponsoring this bill to ask some key questions.

Kentucky Citizen: Congresswoman Northup, please share your perspective on why you co-sponsored legislation to accomplish this goal.

Northup:  America has enjoyed strong economic growth, but our prosperity has not reached every corner of every neighborhood. Congress can help provide the resources to lift up forgotten neighborhoods, but it takes committed individuals — on the front lines and in the trenches — to deliver services that will bring about urban renewal and neighborhood  revitalization.

Kentucky Citizen:  What is your philosophy on how federal grants should be awarded?

Northup:  I strongly believe that federal dollars should be provided to local people who are doing the best work in job training, after-school programming, family counseling and other vital community services. For too long we’ve relied on government when the most innovative and effective solutions are generated by organizations that exist in the very communities they serve. As one of Louisville’s pastors explained, “I can make a difference in a drug addict’s life, because I share something important with him: his ZIP code.”

Kentucky Citizen:  Why do you regard this new approach a step forward?

Northup:  Today, the federal government actually discriminates against faith-based groups by limiting their ability to compete for federal funds. The Community Solutions Act (H.R. 7) would remove those existing barriers and level the playing field so that faith-based programs are eligible to receive federal support without the extra red tape.
 
Kentucky Citizen: How do you respond to those who raise concerns about the “separation of church and state”?

Northup:  For decades, federal dollars have been spent at colleges and hospitals with religious foundations — there is precedent for the Presi-dent’s faith-based initiative.

Kentucky Citizen:  Give some specific examples of how this has worked in the past.
 
Northup:  Every year the federal government provides Pell Grants to students who can attend a college of their choice.  No one raises a red flag when a student chooses the University of Notre Dame — a school which is openly Catholic.  Students attend Mass each day. Crucifixes adorn dormitory halls. No one objects to using federal dollars at Notre Dame or other religiously based colleges across our country. Similarly, our senior citizens have used federal Medicare dollars to pay for health care at Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Jewish hospitals.  No one protests.

Kentucky Citizen:  Why do you think this has met with so much criticism?

Northup:  Critics only voice concern when services that impact poor, minority and under-served communities are supported with federal dollars. It is wrong that advocates for the separation of church and state only speak up when we are addressing the pressing needs of our most disadvantaged communities.
 
 

 
 

Key Family Foundation Contacts: Kent Ostrander, Executive Director Martin Cothran, Senior Associate Policy Analyst