[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS' RULING

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                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2002

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, today the latest in a string of absurd 
court decisions was handed down from a Federal Appeals Court in San 
Francisco. This court decided that the Pledge of Allegiance was 
unconstitutional and cannot be recited in schools.
  This is an unfortunate assault on America's tradition of recognizing 
the role of God in our country's life and as a foundation of our 
liberties.
  This most outrageous decision cannot and will not stand. Our 
forefathers authored the 1st Amendment to protect Americans from a 
``national church or national doctrine'' not from the Pledge of 
Allegiance. For far too often the most liberal Members of our courts 
have abused the 1st Amendment to remove any acknowledgment of God or a 
higher being from the Federal Government and our daily life.
  I would simply remind my colleagues that we sit in a chamber that has 
the words ``In God We Trust'' engraved on the wall. From the beginning 
of our Republic a higher being has been acknowledged by this government 
and the Pledge of Allegiance simply is consistent with that history and 
tradition.
  It is hardly comparable to note that the Pledge of Allegiance is 
relative to the establishment of a national religion, church or 
doctrine.
  The court in San Francisco is the most overturned appeals court in 
the Nation. I am confident that this decision will also be overturned, 
but to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance continues to be observed I 
am introducing legislation to amend the Constitution to ensure the 
Pledge of Allegiance is constitutionally protected speech.

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