Speaking from the White House Thursday morning to celebrate the annual National Day of Prayer, President Trump announced the signing of a new faith based executive order that will allow religious organizations to obtain resources from federal government programs.
"The faith initiative will help design new policies that recognize the vital role of faith in our families, our communities, and our great country. This office will also help ensure that faith-based organizations have equal access to government funding and the equal right to exercise their deeply held beliefs," President Trump said. "We take this step because we know that, in solving the many, many problems and our great challenges, faith is more powerful than government, and nothing is more powerful than God."
The White House Faith Based Opportunity Initiative will be led by someone inside the administration, who will report directly to President Trump on ways to better streamline programs beneficial to religious groups.
"Faith-based and community organizations have tremendous ability to serve individuals, families, and communities through means that are different from those of government and with capacity that often exceeds that of government. These organizations lift people up, keep families strong, and solve problems at the local level. The executive branch wants faith-based and community organizations, to the fullest opportunity permitted by law, to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs, and other Federal funding opportunities," the initiative states. "The efforts of faith-based and community organizations are essential to revitalizing communities, and the Federal Government welcomes opportunities to partner with such organizations through innovative, measurable, and outcome-driven initiatives."
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During his remarks, President Trump also praised the late-Rev. Billy Graham, who passed away earlier this year.
"Today, we remember the words of Reverend Graham. 'Prayer is the key that opens us the treasures of God's mercies and blessings.' Always beautiful. And when he said it, it meant so much. When I say it, it means something. But I liked when he said it better," Trump said. "Reverend Graham's words remind us that prayer has always been at the center of American life, because America is a nation of believers. Right? That's very true."
Today, it was my great honor to celebrate the #NationalDayOfPrayer at the @WhiteHouse, in the Rose Garden! Proclamation: https://t.co/4jAxJnBJoq pic.twitter.com/AsWTfpu290
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
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