[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12403-12404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              H. RES. 459

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2002

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
459, a bill expressing the sense of the House that Newdow v. U.S. 
Congress was erroneously decided.
  Like many of my colleagues, I was disappointed and shocked that the 
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Pledge of Allegiance 
unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit ruling defies common sense and the 
timing of the decision couldn't be worse. Now more than ever we as 
Americans remember the important purpose of our Pledge of Allegiance, 
stand in awe of the magnificent symbolism of our flag, and take pride 
in the triumphant chords of our national anthem, the Star Spangled 
Banner.
  Every day in this Chamber, we honor our nation by reciting the 
Pledge. Schoolchildren across our nation should be allowed to make that 
same statement, thus building a foundation of patriotism and 
citizenship. Generations of Americans regard the Pledge of Allegiance 
as a solemn statement of our nation's values.

[[Page 12404]]

We must not allow this misguided decision to change that fact.
  As a cosponsor of this important resolution, I urge all of my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 459.

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