[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 96 (Thursday, July 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1473]]
                     PLEDGE PROTECTION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2389) to 
     amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the 
     jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and 
     controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance:

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Chairman, I am a strong supporter of the Pledge of 
Allegiance. I believe ``under God'' should be in the Pledge of the 
Allegiance. But what I cannot support today is legislation that 
basically tells the third branch of our government, go home, no thanks, 
we don't need you anymore.
  Judicial review has been a part of our democracy in this 
constitutional government for over 200 years. And now with the fancy 
language embodied in this legislation and other pieces of legislation 
that have been pending, they are trying to disrupt that delicate 
balance of power, the checks and balances that exist that allow the 
Federal courts from time to time to take a look at the work that we are 
doing in the Congress to see whether or not we are complying with the 
highest law of the land, the United States Constitution. That is what 
judicial review is all about.
  What is so ironic about today's debate is that the courts have 
already weighed in and said that the Pledge is okay; ``under God'' is 
okay. So what are we doing here when we have anemic economic job growth 
in this country, rising health care costs, and tuition that is placing 
college out of the reach of students? We can do better by the American 
people.

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