[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 87 (Wednesday, June 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6130-S6132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 292--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Mr. DASCHLE (for himself, Mr. Lott, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Warner, 
Mr. Reid, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dewine, Mr. McCain, Mr. Akaka, 
Mr. Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, 
Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. 
Burns, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Carnahan, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
Chafee, Mr. Cleland, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ensign, Mr. 
Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Gramm, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Helms, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Hutchinson, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. 
Landrieu, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
McConnell, Ms. Mikulski Mr. Miller, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray Mr. 
Nelson

[[Page S6132]]

of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, 
Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Santorium, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer,  Mr. 
Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. Smith of Oregon, 
Ms. Snowe Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
Thompson, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Wellstone, 
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 292

       Whereas, this country was founded in religious freedom by 
     founders, many of whom were deeply religious;
       Whereas, the First Amendment to the Constitution embodies 
     principles intended to guarantee freedom of religion both 
     through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the 
     government 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, Congress in 1954 added the words ``under God'' to 
     the Pledge of Allegiance;
       Whereas, the Pledge of Allegiance has for almost 50 years 
     included references to the U.S. flag, the country, to our 
     country having been established as a union ``under God'' and 
     to this country being dedicated to securing ``liberty and 
     justice for all,''
       Whereas, the Congress in 1954 believed it was acting 
     constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
       Whereas, this Senate of the 107th Congress believes that 
     the Pledge of Allegiance is not an unconstitutional 
     expression of patriotism;
       Whereas, patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, 
     engravings on federal buildings also contain general 
     references to ``God'';
       Whereas, in accordance with decisions of the U.S. Supreme 
     Court, public school students cannot be forced to recite the 
     Pledge of Allegiance without violating their First Amendment 
     rights;
       Whereas, the Congress expects that the U.S. Court of 
     Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will rehear the case of the 
     Newdow v. U.S. Congress, en banc;
       Resolved, That The Senate Strongly Disapproves of the Ninth 
     Circuit Decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress; and that the 
     Senate authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel to 
     seek to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality 
     of the Pledge of Allegiance.

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