District of Columbia

AMENDMENT LANGUAGE

District Code Provision

D.C. Code § 44-715: “Congressional policy as to appropriations to churches or religious entities. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the government of the United States to make no appropriation of money or property for the purpose of founding, maintaining, or aiding by payment for services, expenses, or otherwise, any church or religious denomination, or any institution or society which is under sectarian or ecclesiastical control; and no money appropriated for charitable purposes in the District of Columbia shall be paid to any church or religious denomination, or to any institution or society which is under sectarian or ecclesiastical control.”

RELEVANT CASES

Federal Courts

Bradfield v. Roberts, 175 U.S. 291 (United States Supreme Court 1899) (no violation of Blaine Amendment where hospital receiving funds was incorporated according to Act of Congress, even though majority of directors of private hospital corporation were members of a Catholic religious order).

Chane v. District of Columbia(filed in D.D.C. September 18, 2008) (case filed in DC federal district court arguing that District’s agreement to land swap with Central Union Mission violated Blaine Amendment).

REPEAL EFFORTS

See the Heritage Foundation website for list of local contacts.