A resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 715 Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. SCOTT of Flor- ida, Mr. MORAN, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. CRAMER, Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. RISCH, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. ERNST, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. INHOFE, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. CORNYN, and Mr. COTTON) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance. Whereas the United States was founded on principles of reli- gious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply religious; Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States embodies principles intended to guarantee freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion; Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bel- lamy, a Baptist Minister, and first published in the Sep- tember 8, 1892, issue of the Youth’s Companion; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR715.ATS SR715 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 715 ATS Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ‘‘under God’’ to the Pledge of Allegiance; Whereas, for over 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance has in- cluded references to the United States flag, to the coun- try having been established as a union ‘‘under God’’, and to the country being dedicated to securing ‘‘liberty and justice for all’’; Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting constitu- tionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance; Whereas the Senate of the 116th Congress believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is a constitutional expression of pa- triotism; Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain general references to ‘‘God’’; Whereas the Supreme Court overturned Newdow v. United States Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the recitation of the Pledge of Al- legiance by a student’s public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit later concluded that its previous opinion in Newdow was no longer binding precedent, that case law from the Supreme Court of the United States concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States had subsequently changed, and that Congress, when passing the new version of the Pledge of Allegiance, established a secular purpose for the use of the terms ‘‘under God’’ and, thus, VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR715.ATS SR715 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 715 ATS the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by pub- lic school teachers: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That— 1 (1) the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable 2 part of life for the people of the United States for 3 generations; and 4 (2) the Senate strongly defends the constitu- 5 tionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:12 Sep 24, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR715.ATS SR715 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS