Vice President Mike Pence has praised a new rule that allows faith-based adoption agencies to refuse placement with LGBT couples.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule undoes an Obama-era policy that went into effect in December 2016. While the new rule has yet to take effect, HHS has said that it will no longer enforce the current rule.

(Related: New Trump admin rule allows adoption agencies to refuse placement with LGBT couples.)

Speaking Tuesday at an HHS celebration of adoption month, Pence said that he was “proud” that the Trump administration had taken “decisive action.”

The Trump administration “understands the role that communities of faith play in adoption,” Pence told the audience.

“We’ve reversed the rule implemented in the closing days of the last administration that jeopardized the ability of faith-based providers to serve those in need by penalizing them for their deeply held religious beliefs,” Pence said. “We will stand for the freedom of religion and we will stand with faith-based organizations to support adoption.”

Pence, an opponent of LGBT rights, added that he “couldn't be more proud” of the rule and praised President Donald Trump for taking “decisive action.”

“And I want to commend [HHS] Secretary [Alex] Azar and the team here at HHS for promulgating the new rule that respects the freedom of religion of every American, but also recognizes the vital role that faith-based organizations play in adoption in this country,” he said.