[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ASTONISHMENT AND OUTRAGE AT RULING OF NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my astonishment and 
outrage at the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which 
declared the Pledge of Allegiance to be unconstitutional. Mr. Speaker, 
what could this court be thinking? Under their reasoning, our money 
would be unconstitutional, the Presidential oath would be 
unconstitutional, and yes, this very Chamber, the House of 
Representatives, would be unconstitutional.
  To call the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional is the highest 
embarrassment for our judicial system, and this ruling undermines 
everything our Nation stands for, principles set back in 1776, as well 
as the Declaration of Independence, which by the way includes the word 
God as well.
  Mr. Speaker, is the very document that announced our Nation's 
independence also unconstitutional? Next week we will be celebrating 
our Nation's independence, and I hope every American will remember and 
celebrate our Nation's traditions, including expressing our unity as 
one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, 
and may God bless America.

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