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[Page S5875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 715--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Scott of
Florida, Mr. Moran, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Young, Mr. Rubio,
Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Boozman,
Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Grassley, Mr.
Hoeven, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. Fischer,
Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Cotton) submitted the following resolution; which
was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 715
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of
religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply
religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States embodies principles intended to guarantee
freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof
and by prohibiting the Government from establishing a
religion;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis
Bellamy, a Baptist Minister, and first published in the
September 8, 1892, issue of the Youth's Companion;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ``under God'' to
the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for over 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance has
included references to the United States flag, to the country
having been established as a union ``under God'', and to the
country being dedicated to securing ``liberty and justice for
all'';
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting
constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the Senate of the 116th Congress believes that the
Pledge of Allegiance is a constitutional expression of
patriotism;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal
tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain
general references to ``God'';
Whereas the Supreme Court overturned Newdow v. United
States Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in
which the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit held that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance
by a student's public school teacher violated the
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States; and
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit later concluded that its previous opinion in Newdow
was no longer binding precedent, that case law from the
Supreme Court of the United States concerning the
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States had subsequently changed,
and that Congress, when passing the new version of the Pledge
of Allegiance, established a secular purpose for the use of
the terms ``under God'' and, thus, the United States Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation of the
Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of
life for the people of the United States for generations; and
(2) the Senate strongly defends the constitutionality of
the Pledge of Allegiance.
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