The First Amendment provides that Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. As your representative, I will encourage and introduce legislation to identify houses of faith as essential organizations – especially in times of any natural or unnatural disasters such as the COVID-19 Pandemic. This would be an extra layer of protection for churches and other religious institutions from over-reaching government officials. It would prevent them from forcing the closure of churches. People depend on their religious house for counseling, comfort, and guidance in difficult times.