John Hostettler (R-IN) has introduced - for the 5th time - the Public Expression of Religion Act, which would "eliminating the award of attorneys' fees to plaintiffs who bring cases based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment -- the phrase in the Constitution that sets up the separation of church and state", according to the Roundtable on Religion and Social Policy. Supporters say the proposal would reduce the leverage church-state separation groups have through the mere mention of a lawsuit, in an area of law that has seen conflicting opinions from the courts. Opponents say the bill arbitrarily strips a legal remedy from one area of law, and that it opens the door to banning such fees in other civil rights cases.