Republican Reps. John Kline and Tom Emmer are among 145 cosponsors of the First Amendment Defense Act. The bill would bar the federal government from retaliating against businesses, schools, professionals, and other entities that discriminate against LGBT people. The bill has become a rallying point for social conservatives in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision barring states from prohibiting same-sex marriage.

The bill states, in part:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.

The bill was introduced in mid-June. Emmer and Kline didn’t sign on until Monday and Tuesday (July 27th and 28th)

It has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups.

The ACLU called it “Indiana on Steroids” referring to a “religious freedom” bill introduced in that state that caused a national outcry over concerns it would legalize anti-LGBT discrimination.

“While this bill does nothing to protect individuals’ rights under the First Amendment, it would provide a sweeping right to discriminate in federal law,” the ACLU’s Ian S. Thompson wrote. “Leadership in the House of Representatives would be well served to heed the lesson of Indiana and keep this bill far away from the House floor.”

Faith leaders have also announced opposition to the bill. In a letter to members of Congress, more than 3,000 faith leaders states their opposition to the bill. It was led by Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice and Auburn Seminary.