[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT THE PLEDGE OF 
                   ALLEGIANCE AND THE NATIONAL MOTTO

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House today to 
introduce legislation creating a Constitutional Amendment to protect 
the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Motto.
  Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals let stand the ruling 
of a San Francisco Federal Court which proclaimed the Pledge of 
Allegiance unconstitutional. There have been reports that the next 
victim of the left's crusade against the historic heritage of our 
nation could be to challenge the use of our National Motto, ``In God We 
Trust,'' on our currency.
  These are unfortunate assaults on America's tradition of recognizing 
the role of God in our country's life, and as the foundation of our 
liberties. Unfortunately, there has been a trend in our courts that has 
sought to remove every vestige of God from our country, while child 
pornography is protected.
  When our Founding Fathers sought the monumental break between the 
American people and the British King, they wrote in the Declaration of 
Independence that they appealed ``to the Supreme Judge of the world for 
the rectitude of our intentions.'' They appealed to God to judge their 
moral condition, their uprightness and righteousness in forming our 
nation. Today, we can forget making any such appeal, for our judges 
have declared that the mere acknowledgement of God violates our highest 
national law. My colleagues, those who led our country in years past 
would be outraged. Those who gave their lives for our independence 
would be outraged. Those who gave their lives that we might realize the 
most American dream, that ``ail men are created equal, that they are 
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' those 
leaders too would be outraged. Americans who gave their lives to secure 
our freedoms would be outraged. Americans, who this very day face a war 
to secure our freedoms and liberate Iraq, are outraged. And friends, I 
am outraged, too.
  The time for action has come. Today, I am introducing legislation 
that would provide for a Constitutional Amendment to protect the Pledge 
of Allegiance and the National Motto, ``In God We Trust.''
  Amending the Constitution is never taken lightly, nor should it be. 
Yet Congress can no longer sit idly while the courts rewrite our 
nation's history and traditions. This amendment is very clean, clear, 
concise, and unobtrusive as possible. However, it is very effective and 
the only way to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance and the National 
Motto are protected and preserved.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this bill and hope that we can 
begin the process to move it forward.

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