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ACLU Washington Director Asks Democratic Committee To Include Strong Stand for Civil Liberties in Party Platform (06/19/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the Democratic Party Platform Committee to include strong language in its 2004 platform to protect and promote civil liberties.

ACLU Rebukes Backdoor Congressional Attempts to Allow Tax-Exempt Religious Groups To Engage in Partisan Political Activities (06/14/2004)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today strongly rebuked a backdoor attempt by some Members of Congress to permit tax-exempt religious organizations to engage in partisan political activities, saying that the unconstitutional measure would discriminate against secular non-profit organizations.

In Final Chapter of San Diego Park Lease Case, Court Rules Against Boy Scouts on All Issues (04/14/2004)
SAN DIEGO -- Addressing the last outstanding issues in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of exclusive preferential leases for the Boy Scouts, a federal district court has found that the lease for the Boy Scouts' free use of aquatic parkland on City-owned Fiesta Island is unconstitutional.

As House Panel Convenes Hearing on Bush Faith-Based Initiative, ACLU Urges Congress to Continue to Reject Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination (03/23/2004)
WASHINGTON - As a House panel convened a hearing on President Bush's unpopular plan to permit tax dollars to fund discrimination by religious social service organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged lawmakers to stand firm in rejecting the Administration's faith-based initiative.

NYCLU Sues Salvation Army for Religious Discrimination Against Employees in Government-Funded Social Services for Children (02/24/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court charging The Salvation Army with religious discrimination against employees in its government-funded social services in New York City and on Long Island.

As House Passes Taxpayer Funded Religious Discrimination, ACLU Calls on Senate to Restore Civil Rights Protections (02/04/2004)
WASHINGTON - In the latest move for President Bush's scheme for government-funded religion, the American Civil Liberties Union today expressed its disappointment with the failure of an amendment to a community services funding measure that would have stopped government funded religious discrimination and religious activities.

ACLU Joins Civil Rights and Education Leaders to Express Disappointment With Inclusion of Controversial Vouchers Program in Appropriations Bill (01/22/2004)
WASHINGTON - With the Senate adoption today of an omnibus appropriations measure for 2004, the American Civil Liberties Union joined with a broad coalition of national and local civil rights and education groups to express disappointment with the inclusion of controversial language in the District of Columbia Appropriations bill that will create the nation's first federally funded school voucher program.

Before State of the Union, ACLU Notes Conservative Opposition to Marriage Amendment, Political Unpopularity of Faith-Based Initiative (01/20/2004)
WASHINGTON - Responding to media previews of President Bush's 2004 State of the Union address tonight, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the President to leave the issue of marriage out of the Constitution and noted the lingering lack of popularity in Congress for legislation to permit employment discrimination by taxpayer-funded religious social service providers.

ACLU of Louisiana Opposes Renewed White House Push for Taxpayer Funded Religious Discrimination (01/15/2004)
NEW ORLEANS -- Responding to President Bush's renewed lobbying for his controversial faith-based initiative in New Orleans yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana today reiterated its concern at the unilateral way in which the White House is pushing its agenda -- which was rejected by Congress -- and warned that the new approach would permit religious organizations to use taxpayer funds to discriminate in employment and the provision of services based on religion.

NYCLU Calls on State Officials to Audit Salvation Army Employment Practices (01/14/2004)
NEW YORK -- In letters sent today to New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and New York City Comptroller William G. Thompson Jr., the New York Civil Liberties Union raised concerns about possible religious discrimination against employees in state- and city-funded social services programs run by the Salvation Army.

ACLU of San Diego Secures Landmark Settlement in Boy Scout Lease Case (01/08/2004)
SAN DIEGO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties today announced a settlement with the City Council here in its 2000 lawsuit challenging the city's subsidy of the Desert Pacific Boy Scout Council through preferential leases for public land in Balboa Park and Fiesta Island Aquatic Park.

ACLU Urges Supreme Court to Reject Taxpayer Funding for Clergy Training (12/02/2003)
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in Locke v. Davey, which raises the question of whether the federal constitution compels a state to provide scholarship funds for clergy training, in violation of its own constitution.

ACLU Welcomes Senate Decision to Exclude Controversial Vouchers Program from Appropriations Bill (11/18/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the decision by the Senate to remove from the District of Columbia Appropriations bill controversial language that would have created the nation's first federally funded school voucher program. A similar provision passed in the House version of the bill on the razor-thin margin of one vote in September. The bill will most likely be included in the omnibus spending measure to be considered by Congress.

ACLU Files Challenge to Religion-Themed Post Office in Connecticut Town (10/03/2003)
HARTFORD -- The Connecticut Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Postal Service, saying that a contract postal unit in the town of Manchester is replete with Christian religious symbols, messages and images.

ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Government Funded Religion As House Committee Marks Up Community Services Bill (09/25/2003)
WASHINGTON - In the latest skirmish over President Bush's scheme for government-funded religion, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged a House panel to adopt a measure to preserve civil rights protections and prohibit tax dollars from being diverted to fund religious activities.

President Bush Puts Forward Final Installment of Faith-Based Plan, ACLU Opposes Tax-Payer Funded Religious Discrimination (09/22/2003)
WASHINGTON - Responding to reports that President Bush will soon unveil the final installment of its controversial faith-based initiative, the American Civil Liberties Union today reiterated its concern at the unilateral way in which the White House is pushing its agenda - which was rejected by Congress earlier this year - and warned that the new proposals would remove the last barriers against government funded religion.

As House Narrowly Approves Controversial DC Voucher Scheme, ACLU Calls For Serious Reconsideration Before Bill's Final Passage (09/05/2003)
WASHINGTON - Acting with only a razor-thin margin, the House of Representatives today gave preliminary approval for a controversial voucher scheme for the District of Columbia and then postponed final consideration on the underlying DC appropriations bill until next week. In reaction, the American Civil Liberties Union strongly urged House members to reject the appropriations measure if the voucher provisions are not removed.

House Narrowly Passes Taxpayer Funded Religious Discrimination in Head Start; ACLU Calls on Senate to Preserve Civil Rights Protections (07/25/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today decried narrow passage in the House of legislation to reauthorize the Head Start early education program, that contains a stealth provision that would permit program providers to discriminate based on religion in their hiring and firing. The ACLU said that the bill, if passed, would inevitably cost many talented teachers their jobs and deny many children quality early childhood education.

Prominent Lawmakers Set to Condemn Flawed Head Start Bill; Taxpayer Funded Religious Discrimination Will Be Decried (07/16/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded news that nine prominent House lawmakers, including the Minority Whip, will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill to condemn controversial legislation to reauthorize the Head Start early childhood education program, which has drawn fire because in addition to lingering funding concerns it would permit participating taxpayer-funded religious groups to discriminate in their hiring.

ACLU Decries House Legislation that Earmarks $100 Million For Unproven Faith-Based Drug Treatment Programs (07/10/2003)
WASHINGTON - Responding to House legislation that would earmark $100 million for largely faith-based drug treatment initiatives, the American Civil Liberties Union today warned that the lack of quality standards and licensing requirements could harm participants and violate civil liberties.