A resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Declares that the Senate strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress.

Authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal Counsel to seek to intervene in the case to defend the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 292 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 292

            Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 26, 2002

 Mr. Daschle (for himself, Mr. Lott, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Warner, 
Mr. Reid, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Johnson, Mr. DeWine, Mr. McCain, Mr. Akaka, 
 Mr. Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, 
   Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. 
   Burns, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Carnahan, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
   Chafee, Mr. Cleland, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
 Conrad, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Dodd, Mr. 
 Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, 
 Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Frist, Mr. Graham, 
 Mr. Gramm, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, 
 Mr. Helms, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Hutchinson, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, 
 Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, 
 Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
 McConnell, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
 Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. Smith of Oregon, 
  Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
 Thompson, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Wellstone, 
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
            Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Whereas this country was founded on religious freedom by founders, many of whom 
        were deeply religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution embodies principles intended to 
        guarantee freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof and 
        by prohibiting the government establishing a religion;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist 
        Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892, issue of the 
        Youth's Companion;
Whereas Congress in 1954 added the words ``under God'' to the Pledge of 
        Allegiance;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance has for almost 50 years included references to 
        the U.S. flag, the country, to our country having been established as a 
        union ``under God'' and to this country being dedicated to securing 
        ``liberty and justice for all;''
Whereas the Congress in 1954 believed it was acting constitutionally when it 
        revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas this Senate of the 107th Congress believes that the Pledge of Allegiance 
        is not an unconstitutional expression of patriotism;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, engravings on Federal 
        buildings also contain general references to ``God'';
Whereas in accordance with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, public school 
        students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance without 
        violating their First Amendment rights; and
Whereas the Congress expects that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth 
        Circuit will rehear the case of Newdow v. U.S. Congress, en banc: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate strongly disapproves of the Ninth Circuit 
Decision in Newdow v. U.S. Congress.
    Sec. 2 That the Senate authorizes and instructs the Senate Legal 
Counsel to seek to intervene in the case to defend the 
constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
                                 <all>