[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 715 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 715

            Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2020

   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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
            Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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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