When the House and Senate fly back from Thanksgiving, they’ll get to work carving up something else: the federal budget. Although some of the heavy lifting is out of the way with last month’s two-year budget deal, GOP leaders have a big job to do before having themselves a merry little Christmas.

With government spending set to expire on December 12, Congress is barreling through the appropriations process to put a real funding bill in place for the rest of the fiscal year. For the last several weeks, the two sides have been negotiating a package that would bundle a series of agencies’ spending bills into one proposal, known as an omnibus. Of course, these budgets are immense, they’re complicated, and they’re loaded with political landmines like abortion funding.

Fortunately for new House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), budgeting is right in the former Ways and Means Chairman’s wheelhouse. The biggest challenge will be of a different sort: managing the priorities of his very diverse caucus. For conservatives, that means wading through a series of policy riders, which can amend the bill without necessarily being related to it. Both parties use this strategy to help set their agendas on a host of key issues.

In fact, some of our biggest victories for values have been protecting riders like the Hyde amendment, which bars the government from using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. In this latest bill, it’s important for Republican leaders to keep fighting to include not just riders like Hyde, but new provisions like the Harris amendment that blocks abortion funding in the ObamaCare exchanges or the Aderholt amendment, which stops the Department of Homeland Security from paying for abortion for illegal immigrants.

The omnibus is also the GOP’s best crack at boosting abstinence education, keeping the D.C. marijuana referendum from taking effect, or putting the brakes on Common Core. Already, pro-life groups are looking at the omnibus as another opportunity to pull the financial rug out from under Planned Parenthood. On that issue, Speaker Ryan has already staked out his position. “I’m not going to predetermine the outcome of negotiations that have not even taken place yet,” he told a reporter. “I don’t think Planned Parenthood should get one red cent from the taxpayer. That’s been my position for a long time.”

While states are suing for the right to drop Cecile Richards’s group from their Medicaid programs, Congress could also help by hitching an amendment to this package that gives legislatures that right. And under an administration that regularly attacks our values, Congress could take this opportunity to give Americans the conscience protections they so desperately need to live and work according to their faith.

The point is, Congress has a rare chance over the next two weeks to use its conservative muscle and make policies protecting families, life, and religious liberty top goals. Encourage them to do exactly that. Contact your House and Senate members and urge them to make way for these riders!

Family Farm Won’t Bale on Religious Liberty

Holidays used to be a busy time of year for Liberty Ridge Farm — but the brides and grooms who used to be a fixture on the property are gone. After a complaint from same-sex activists, Robert and Cynthia Gifford had to make the difficult decision to stop hosting weddings on their New York property for good. Like a growing number of Christians in the wedding business, the Giffords knew it was only a matter of time before the debate over religious liberty came to their doorstep. And two years ago, it did.

When a same-sex couple approached the Farm about hosting their wedding, the Giffords said they’d be happy to open up the barn to a reception, but because of their faith, couldn’t — in good conscience — participate in the ceremony. Angry, the couple complained to the New York Human Rights Commission, which fined the family $13,000 for refusing to violate their faith. For the Giffords, the financial impact of their decision (and the Commission’s) was enormous. Once again, the trumpeters of “tolerance” have taken away a family’s security — their livelihood — to make a political point. As far as they’re concerned, freedom is a one-way street that will run right over your business, if necessary.

Fortunately, the Giffords aren’t surrendering. [Monday], the couple appealed their punishment before a five-judge panel of the state supreme court. “When the government tells you what to say and punishes you if you don’t, it’s very frightening,” Cynthia told reporters later. “And all of us Americans should be scared about this, no matter where we stand on the issue… We respect and care for everyone! We had an openly gay man working for us this past season. We’ve had a woman who’s transitioning to be a man. We don’t discriminate against anyone.”

James Trainor, the family’s attorney, stressed who the real victims of discrimination are. “We’ve gone from tolerance to compulsion,” he argued. “State government should not be forcing people to violate their own religious beliefs, nor should they be forced to make a choice between making a living and living their faith.” Let’s hope the judges agree!

Being Thankful for Adoption

This Thanksgiving, one thing for which we all can be grateful is the precious gift of life and for parents who raise children in stable and loving homes. Parents who have adopted children have a special reason to be thankful, as November is National Adoption Month. Many Christians are involved in helping children find parents who will love and nurture them through adoption and to help women with unplanned pregnancies. Here are a few examples:

• A relatively new ministry, Embrace Grace, wants “every girl with an unplanned pregnancy to have a church to go to for spiritual, emotional and physical support,” and aims to “inspire and equip the church to love on single and pregnant girls.”

• Bethany Christian Services promotes “adoption, foster care, and pregnancy counseling. We also provide counseling to families, assist refugees and immigrants resettling in the U.S., and partner with several international countries to help keep families together. The work we do equips families to be the answer for children in need — as Christ intended.”

• Catholic Adoption Online “is the number one place for women seeking Catholic families to adopt their children, or women of any faith who are looking for compassionate, non-judgmental help with an unplanned pregnancy.”

At least eight FRC families have had their lives transformed by adopting children. The children have found secure and caring moms and dads, and the parents have found the children they longed for. The Bible describes Christians as God the Father’s adopted children (Ephesians 1:5). Let’s consider how each of us can model the Father’s love in helping pregnant women in difficult circumstances and, as the Lord leads us, adopting a child for life. FRC has documented the many benefits of adoption in Dr. Pat Fagan’s “Adoption Works Well” and “A Passion to Serve.” Both can be downloaded or read online at no cost.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.