Golden Votes to Pass NO BAN Act through the House

Press Release

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) joined members of Congress from both parties this week to pass the National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act (NO BAN Act) through the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, cosponsored by Golden, would forbid discrimination based on religion in American immigration policy, while protecting presidents' authority to restrict travel to prevent the spread of disease

Specifically, the NO BAN Act would require that any ban on travel from a particular country be temporary, based on credible evidence, subject to the oversight of Congress, and imposed only in response to specific actions a country has taken to threaten the United States.

"It's wrong to deny someone a place in America because of their religion. Freedom from that kind of religious oppression and discrimination is why generations of Americans came to this country," said Golden. "The NO BAN Act forbids any president from denying someone entry to America based on their religion and I was proud to help pass it through the House."

Among other provisions, the NO BAN Act:

Immediately rescinds each version of the administration's Muslim Ban;
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act's nondiscrimination provision to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on religion;
Includes coronavirus protections in the bill, in order to ensure that, under the bill, the president has the authority to protect the United States from the spread of communicable diseases, including the 2019 coronavirus;
Limits the president's overly broad authority to issue future bans by requiring suspensions and restrictions to be temporary, based on credible facts, and narrowly tailored to a compelling interest; and
Requires the president to consult with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security before restricting or suspending the entry of individuals and increases mandatory reporting requirements to Congress.

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