[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

  (Mr. HEFLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's first call to prayer came in 
1775 when the Continental Congress asked the Colonies to pray for 
wisdom in forming a nation. Since then, the call to prayer has 
continued throughout our history.
  In 1952 a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, 
declared an annual National Day of Prayer. In 1988, the law was amended 
and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the 
first Thursday of every May.
  Today is the National Day of Prayer. We are celebrating in the Cannon 
Caucus Room all day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Military chiefs of staff, 
Cabinet Secretaries, Senators and Representatives are gathering to ask 
for prayers from the people. The National Day of Prayer belongs to all 
Americans of all faiths. It stands as a call to us to humbly come 
before God, seeking his guidance for our leaders and his grace upon us 
as a people. Please join me today by stopping by the Cannon Caucus Room 
to celebrate this great event. It is our prayer that during the 
National Day of Prayer, America will again remember the trust that made 
this Nation great.

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