[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18328]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       CONSTITUTION RESTORATION ACT PROMISES FREEDOM OF RELIGION

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the American Congress in 1776 adopted a 
Declaration of Independence which asserted the belief that we are 
endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. In fact, the 
Congress that adopted the first amendment and its freedom of religion 
clause also established the chaplaincy and the practice, as we saw 
today, of opening this House in prayer.
  Nevertheless, over the past 42 years, since the famous prayer in 
school cases, our Federal courts have showed increased hostility toward 
the acknowledgement of God in the public square. But as we heard 
yesterday before the Judiciary subcommittee, Congress can finally do 
something about it.
  The Constitution Restoration Act simply put, Mr. Speaker, would use 
article III powers to deny the Federal courts jurisdiction over any 
case where the action is brought because a public official simply 
acknowledges God.
  Let us restore that basic freedom of religion in the public square, 
the acknowledgment of God that our founders so cherished and enshrined 
in this institution. The freedom of religion must never become the 
freedom from religion. Let us pass the Constitution Restoration Act in 
this Congress.

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