FEDERALcongressional record

Senator Cornyn's Remarks on Religious Freedom and Sharia Law

Original title: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

May 14, 2026

religious freedom civil rights immigration Sharia law housing discrimination constitutional law

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The Frame

What this does

The Senator announced his intent to introduce federal legislation aimed at preventing the adoption of religious law, such as Sharia, within the United States, which could impact future housing and community development regulations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Residents of Josephine, Texas

The proposed development of the EPIC City project in their jurisdiction was the subject of federal inquiry and state-level opposition.

Developers of EPIC City

Their project was the subject of a requested Department of Justice investigation and opposition from state and federal officials.

What changed

Last recorded activity May 14, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Senator John Cornyn delivered a speech in the Senate expressing concerns regarding the influence of both internationally and domestically. He highlighted specific cases of religious persecution in Nigeria and discussed his opposition to a proposed residential development in Josephine, Texas, which he alleged intended to operate under religious law.

Key Facts

Senator Cornyn announced plans to introduce Senate legislation to prohibit the adoption or imposition of religious law, including Sharia, in the United States.
Senator Cornyn requested a Department of Justice investigation into the 'EPIC City' project in Josephine, Texas, citing potential violations of the Fair Housing Act.
The Senator alleges that the EPIC City project intended to restrict home sales to individuals of a specific faith and govern the community via Sharia law.
Governor Greg Abbott is credited with taking action to prevent the development of the EPIC City project.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report in July 2025 regarding the enforcement of blasphemy laws in Nigeria.
Twelve states in Northern Nigeria currently permit the use of Sharia courts to adjudicate laws, including those criminalizing blasphemy.
The Senator claims that Sharia-based codes in parts of Nigeria include corporal punishment such as amputation and stoning.

Why It Matters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EPIC City project?

According to Senator Cornyn, it was a proposed planned community in Josephine, Texas, intended for Muslim residents that he alleged would operate under .

What legislation does Senator Cornyn plan to introduce?

He stated he intends to introduce a bill in the Senate to ensure that religious laws, specifically Sharia, are not adopted or imposed in the United States.

News Coverage

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Lobbying Activity

NEW LANTERN, LLC

on behalf of RABBINICAL ASSEMBLY

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Related Legislation

hearing_transcript

Reviewing the Fair Housing Act: Efforts to Eliminate Discrimination

The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on April 2, 2019, to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fair Housing Act in preventing discrim

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Proposed Federal Ban on Religious Law

The Senator is signaling a shift toward federal legislative intervention to preemptively block the adoption of religious legal frameworks in local communities.

John Cornyn

Connected Entities

organizationU.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom“Federal commission that issued a report on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria.”Map →

personJohn Cornyn“United States Senator from Texas who delivered the remarks.”Map →

locationJosephine, TX“The location of the proposed EPIC City development.”Map →

personGreg Abbott“Governor of Texas, credited by Senator Cornyn for opposing the EPIC City project”Map →

organizationDepartment of Justice“Federal agency requested by Senator Cornyn to investigate the EPIC City project.”Map →

organizationEast Plano Islamic Center (EPIC City)“A proposed residential development in Josephine, Texas, that was the subject of ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy85
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment40
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz50
Current news / social attention level

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