[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-53. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the 
     Legislature of the State of Michigan relative to prayer in 
     public schools; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                        Senate Resolution No. 54

       Whereas, The United States of America was founded by men 
     and women with varied religious beliefs and ideals; and
       Whereas, The First Amendment to the United States 
     Constitution states that ``Congress shall make no law 
     respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the 
     free exercise thereof . . .,'' which means that the 
     government is prohibited from establishing a state religion. 
     However, no barriers shall be erected against the practice of 
     any religion; and
       Whereas, The establishment clause of the First Amendment 
     was not drafted to protect Americans from religion. Rather, 
     its purpose was clearly to protect Americans from 
     governmental mandates with respect to religion; and
       Whereas, The Michigan Senate strongly believes that 
     reaffirming a right to voluntary, individual, unorganized, 
     and nonmandated prayer in public schools is an important 
     element of religious choice guaranteed by the Constitution, 
     and will reaffirm those religious rights and beliefs upon 
     which the nation was founded: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this 
     legislative body memorialize the Congress of the United 
     States to strongly support voluntary, individual, 
     unorganized, and nonmandatory prayer in the public schools of 
     this nation; and be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to 
     the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the 
     United States House of Representatives, and the members of 
     the Michigan congressional delegation.

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