[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1273 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1273

 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the National Day of 
                                Prayer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 20, 2010

Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Harper, 
 Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, 
Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Jordan of Ohio, Mr. 
  Alexander, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Miller of 
 Florida, Mr. Pence, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Issa, Mr. Chaffetz, 
Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, and Mr. LaTourette) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the National Day of 
                                Prayer.

Whereas in our Declaration of Independence, the Founders based their right to 
        ``dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another'' 
        on the ``Laws of Nature and of Nature's God.'' They then declared, ``We 
        hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, 
        that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, 
        that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.'' They 
        ended, ``We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of 
        America, . . . appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World . . . do, . . 
        . with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, . . . 
        pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.'' 
        The Declaration of Independence (1776);
Whereas Article VII in the U.S. Constitution refers to ``the Year of Our Lord'', 
        1787. U.S. Const. art. VII;
Whereas the First Congress not only acknowledged a proper role for religion in 
        public life, but it did so at the very time it drafted the Establishment 
        Clause. Just three days before Congress sent the text of the First 
        Amendment to the States for ratification, it authorized the appointment 
        of legislative chaplains. Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783, 788 (1983);
Whereas both Houses of Congress open their daily sessions with prayer and, in 
        recent years, recitation of the Pledge. See Senate Rule IV.1, Standing 
        Rules of the Senate, S. Doc. No. 107-1, at 4 (2002); House Rule XIV.1, 
        Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and Rules of the House of 
        Representatives, H.R. Doc. No. 106-320, at 620 (2001);
Whereas, on September 25, 1789, the First Congress unanimously approved a 
        resolution calling on President George Washington to proclaim a National 
        Day of Thanksgiving for the people of the United States by declaring, 
        ``a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by 
        acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many favors of Almighty God, 
        especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a 
        constitution of government for their safety and happiness'' See Wallace 
        v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38, 101 (1985) (Rehnquist, J., dissenting);
Whereas in Washington's Proclamation of a Day of National Thanksgiving, he wrote 
        that it is the ``duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of 
        Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and 
        humbly to implore his protection and favor . . .'' 30 The Writings of 
        George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources 1745-1799, at 427 
        (John C. Fitzpatrick ed., Gov't Printing Office 1939);
Whereas John Adams declared in 1799, ``As no truth is more clearly taught in the 
        Volume of Inspiration, nor any more fully demonstrated by the experience 
        of all ages, than that a deep sense and due acknowledgment of the 
        governing providence of a Supreme Being and of the Accountableness of 
        men to Him as the searcher of heart and righteous distributor of rewards 
        and punishments are conducive equally to the happiness and rectitude of 
        individuals and to the well-being of communities . . . I do hereby 
        recommend . . . to be observed throughout the United States as a day of 
        solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer . . .'' 9 The Works of John 
        Adams 172 (Charles F. Adams ed., 1850-56) (reprint by Books for 
        Librarians Press, 1969);
Whereas President James Madison, on July 9, 1812, proclaimed that the third 
        Thursday in August ``be set apart for the devout purposes of rendering 
        the Sovereign of the Universe and the Benefactor of Mankind the public 
        homage due to His holy attributes . . .'' 2 James D. Richardson, A 
        Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents 498 (Bureau of 
        National Literature, Inc.);
Whereas President James Madison, on March 4, 1815, declared ``a day of 
        thanksgiving and of devout acknowledgments to Almighty God for His great 
        goodness manifested in restoring to them the blessing of peace. No 
        people ought to feel greater obligations to celebrate the goodness of 
        the Great Disposer of Events and of the Destiny of Nations than the 
        people of the United States.'' 2 James D. Richardson, A Compilation of 
        the Messages and Papers of the Presidents 546 (Bureau of National 
        Literature, Inc.);
Whereas a ``National Day of Prayer'' is provided for under section 119 of title 
        36, United States Code;
Whereas in 1952, evangelist Billy Graham led a six week religious campaign in 
        Washington, DC, holding events in the National Guard Armory and on the 
        Capitol steps;
Whereas that campaign culminated in a speech in which Graham called for a 
        National Day of Prayer;
Whereas, on April 17, 1952, Congress passed Public Law 82-324, providing that: 
        ``The President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, 
        other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of 
        the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, 
        in groups, and as individuals'';
Whereas, on April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed that legislation 
        into law;
Whereas, on May 5, 1988, Congress approved Public Law 100-307, ``setting aside 
        the first Thursday in May as the date on which the National Day of 
        Prayer is celebrated'';
Whereas, on May 9, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law;
Whereas the current version of the statute provides: ``The President shall issue 
        each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a 
        National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn 
        to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as 
        individuals.''; and
Whereas all Presidents since 1952 have issued proclamations designating the 
        National Day of Prayer each year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the National Day of Prayer is constitutional and a needed tribute to 
the value of prayer and a fitting acknowledgment of our Nation's 
religious history.
                                 <all>