[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 407 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 407

 Designating the week of October 3, 2021, through October 9, 2021, as 
 ``Religious Education Week'' to celebrate religious education in the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 4, 2021

 Mr. Graham (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Capito, Mr. 
   Cramer, Mr. Daines, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Hawley, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Lankford, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. 
   Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Young, and Mr. Barrasso) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the week of October 3, 2021, through October 9, 2021, as 
 ``Religious Education Week'' to celebrate religious education in the 
                             United States.

Whereas the free exercise of religion is an inherent, fundamental, and 
        inalienable right protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution 
        of the United States;
Whereas the United States has long recognized that the free exercise of religion 
        is important to the intellectual, ethical, moral, and civic development 
        of individuals in the United States, as evidenced by Founders of the 
        United States, such as--

    (1) Benjamin Franklin, who believed religion to be ``uniquely capable 
of educating a citizenry for democracy''; and

    (2) George Washington, who said in his farewell address, ``Of all the 
dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and 
morality are indispensable supports.'';

Whereas religious education is useful for self-development, because it asks 
        students to consider and respond to questions concerning the meaning and 
        purpose of life, engages students in questions about morality and 
        justice, and enables students to identify their values;
Whereas studies like the one published by the International Journal of Mental 
        Health Systems in 2019 have shown that religious education can be 
        ``instrumental to improving adolescent mental health'' by helping 
        children learn how to make decisions based on morals, promoting less 
        risky choices, and encouraging connectedness within a community, which 
        can enhance self-esteem and well-being;
Whereas religious education fosters respect for other religious groups and 
        individuals generally by acknowledging a source for human dignity and 
        worth;
Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States found in Pierce v. Society of 
        Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925), that the state does not have power ``to 
        standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from 
        public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the state; 
        those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled 
        with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional 
        obligations.'';
Whereas religious instruction can come from a variety of sources, including 
        sectarian schools and released time programs;
Whereas, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2015, 
        4,350,000 children in the United States attended sectarian elementary 
        and secondary schools where those children received religious education; 
        and
Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States held in Zorach v. Clauson, 343 
        U.S. 306 (1952), that State statutes providing for the release of public 
        school students from school to attend religious classes are 
        constitutional, and, as a result, an estimated 540,000 public school 
        students in the United States take advantage of released time programs 
        each year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) affirms the importance of religious education in the 
        civic and moral development of the people of the United States;
            (2) celebrates the schools and organizations that are 
        engaged in religious instruction of the children of the United 
        States to aid those children in intellectual, ethical, moral, 
        and civic development;
            (3) calls on each of the 50 States, each territory of the 
        United States, and the District of Columbia to accommodate 
        individuals who wish to be released from public school 
        attendance to attend religious classes; and
            (4) designates the week of October 3, 2021, through October 
        9, 2021, as ``Religious Education Week''.
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