WASHINGTON — The Religious Liberty Commission released a 224-page draft report on Friday in Washington. The report contains recommendations related to religious liberty.

President Donald Trump created the Religious Liberty Commission last year. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick serves as its chairman, and the commission is composed almost entirely of conservative Christians.

The draft report suggests replacing the concept of separating church and state with the concept of building bridges between them. "To be clear, this does not involve or require advocating 'theocracy' or even the total elimination of any separation between church and state," the report states. It adds, "In reality, the church and state strengthen and support one another."

Recommendations in the draft report include eliminating the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits political activities by tax-exempt religious groups. The report also calls for compensating military service members who were discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, it proposes that federal agencies publish "Know Your Rights" posters and establish hotlines for complaints regarding religious liberty violations.

The report recommends creating a Presidential Medal of Religious Liberty and First Freedom Hero Awards. It also advocates for exhibits and markers at historic sites that pay tribute to the role of religion in American history. The draft report is available for public comment for 15 days.

President Trump spoke to supporters at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gathering in Washington on Friday. "We saved religion, it was going down," Trump said. The President also stated that the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, had implemented a "reign of persecution."

The Center for American Progress and other groups issued a report in June defending the concept of church-state separation. That report states, "Religious liberty belongs to all people, not to any single tradition, political party, or administration."