Back in 1984, I received an unexpected call from Senator Mark Hatfield (R-OR), a highly regarded Republican who chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. I wondered, why would he call a young Democrat who had no significant position and little influence in the halls of Congress?
He asked if I would introduce legislation on the House side that he was sponsoring and pledged to send some background material. I quickly responded, “Mark, if it is something you want, I’d be glad to do it,” with little clue of its content. The next day I learned that the so-called Equal Access Act (EAA) was about students having the right to hold noncurriculum religious meetings in high schools.
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