Directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of "In God We Trust" in the Capitol Visitor Center.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I am honored to rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 131, and I certainly greatly appreciate the leadership of Congressman Dan Lungren on this matter, who is delayed by travel and unable to be here at this time.

This resolution would direct the Architect of the Capitol to engrave our national motto ``In God We Trust'' and the Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center. The installation of these two references will be a reminder of the importance our Founders placed on the guidance of Providence in the birth and development and future of our Nation.

The Declaration of Independence, our Nation's first national document, spoke to inalienable rights given by our Creator. Those men acknowledged that in signing that document, one that would be seen as high treason by the King of England, they were placing themselves under the protection of ``Divine Providence.''

When Congress adopted our Great Seal in 1782, included in its design were numerous allusions to biblical references, and the seal was marked by the words ``Annuit Coeptis,'' which translated means ``Providence has favored our undertakings.''

As the Founders were drafting the Constitution, numerous sources point to their collective reliance on God for direction and wisdom. In 1787, when the Constitution was framed at the Convention in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin reminded the delegates, ``To that kind Providence, we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.''

During the War of 1812, when Francis Scott Key penned the Star Spangled Banner, he included in the final stanza: Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: ``In God is our trust.''

These glimpses into our history show but a few examples of the national consciousness that served as prelude to the establishment of our national motto.

The establishment of ``In God We Trust'' as the Nation's motto sprung out of a Civil War letter. The letter from Reverend M.R. Watkinson of Pennsylvania urged Treasury Secretary Chase to install upon our currency some indication for future generations of the Nation's religious consciousness. Reverend Watkinson was concerned that the United States might be shattered beyond recognition by the Civil War.

Secretary Chase agreed and instructed the Director of the U.S. Mint that, ``No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.''

The Presidency of Dwight Eisenhower saw the codification of both our national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance as we know it. On Flag Day, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the Federal law which added ``Under God'' to the Pledge.

Two years later, President Eisenhower signed into law the bill officially recognizing ``In God We Trust'' as our national motto. The motto has since been installed on both our paper currency and the Speaker's rostrum in the House.

By incorporating our national motto and the Pledge of Allegiance as permanent fixtures in the CVC, we will provide further testimony to our Nation's rich history and the degree to which these two statements reflect the philosophical foundation of these United States.

At this time, I would like to enter into the Record those of my colleagues who, in addition to the 160 cosponsors of House Concurrent Resolution 131, wished to be added but were unable due to time constraints:

The Honorable Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland;

The Honorable Roy Blunt of Missouri;

The Honorable Bill Cassidy of Louisiana;

The Honorable Ander Crenshaw of Florida;

The Honorable David Dreier of California;

The Honorable Elton Gallegly of California;

The Honorable Brett Guthrie of Kentucky;

The Honorable Darrel Issa of California;

The Honorable Lynn Jenkins of Kansas;

The Honorable Tim Johnson of Illinois;

The Honorable Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri;

The Honorable Jerry Moran of Kansas;

The Honorable Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania;

The Honorable Pat Tiberi of Ohio.

I am proud to stand in support of this resolution and urge my colleagues' support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 131, directing the Architect of the

Capitol to engrave our National Motto and the Pledge of Allegiance in the Capitol Visitor Center.

These two statements of historical significance speak to the culture and development of our nation as a people united by a core set of philosophical maxims. This resolution stands as a tribute to the work of our founding fathers, a legacy that this body has been entrusted to maintain.

Abraham Lincoln argued that the Constitution could not be read properly without reference to the Declaration of Independence whereby the origin of our individual rights is identified as God. The Declaration refers to those unalienable rights as endowed by God, or ``their Creator'' with a capital ``C,'' specifying that those rights do not exist except by the grace of God.

This concept, of individual rights as given by God, is the very foundation upon which our Constitution stands. It was revolutionary at the time because it defines the worth of an individual apart from and prior to the state. To refuse to recognize God as the origin of our unalienable rights is to refuse the very basis by which one's worth is established.

Removing God as the basis by which we define and recognize our individual rights removes a constancy within our constitutional order, subjecting the definition of those rights to an ever changing and inconsistent standard of public opinion and momentary context. It is the very fact that these rights are endowed by our Creator that makes them unalienable--a truth we as a nation must never forget.

Furthermore, acknowledgement of God and His tenets has been an integral part of our national story, since its inception. Those assenting to the Declaration understood it as an appeal ``to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions.''

Moreover, George Washington, in his farewell address, observed, ``Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness--these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.''

When Patrick Henry advocated revolution in his famous ``give me liberty or give me death'' speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses, he declared, ``Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.'' Continuing, ``[We] shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.''

Madam Speaker, the reliance upon and foundational belief in God is deeply interwoven into the fabric of this nation's beginning and growth. So much so that, to omit an appeal to Providence in the retelling of our history would be a profound disservice to that history.

In the short period that the Capitol Visitor Center has been open it has attracted over one million visitors, with many more to come. The historical offering of the CVC will be augmented by this resolution, ensuring that the philosophy which provided the Cornerstone for our great nation will endure in words, and as many of us in this body aspire, hopefully in deed as well.

I urge the support of my colleagues for this resolution and look forward to its swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution previously noticed.

I do, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, rule IX regarding questions of the

privilege of the House states that questions of privilege shall be first those affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings. The integrity of its proceedings.

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the unprecedented actions that have been taken by the Democrats in charge have disenfranchised every single Member of this House. Appropriations bills have been, by tradition and previously by rule, brought to the floor under what's called an ``open rule,'' which means that every single Member of the House has an opportunity to affect the bill, to represent his or her constituents.

Each of us represents basically the same number of folks, 650,000, 675,000. When Members are not allowed to bring amendments to the floor on the spending of their constituents' tax money, that disenfranchises those Members. That is an affront to the House. It presents an indignity to the House.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the closed rule that was passed recently, yesterday, resulted in more closed rules on appropriations bills in this House of Representatives by this leadership, by these Democrats in charge, more than any in the history, not of this decade, not of this century, but in the history of this Republic. Mr. Speaker, in the history of this Republic.

Now, I know my friend from California says that this is not the way we want things to operate, but, Mr. Speaker, they control the process. They control the process. They control this tyranny. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed tyranny. It's tyranny by the majority. It's what de Tocqueville warned about over 150 years ago when he said that the majority can indeed shut down the rights of the minority. And that's exactly what is happening, which is why this resolution ought to be a privileged resolution, because what it directs the Rules Committee to do is to return to regular order; return to a process that allows each and every one of us to represent our constituents; return to a process that Mr. Obey, then in the minority on the Appropriations Committee, said, ``We have gotten so far from the regular order that I fear that if this continues, the House will not have the capacity to return to the precedents and procedures of the House that have given true meaning to the term `representative democracy.' The reason we have stuck to regular order as long as we have in this Institution is to protect the rights of every Member to participate. And when we lose those rights, we lose the right to be called the greatest deliberative body in the world.''

Mr. Speaker, the tyranny of this majority, the tyranny of the folks in charge right now, have resulted in an affront on this House. Those actions, these actions have clearly violated the integrity of our proceedings. Therefore, I believe that this resolution qualifies as a privileged resolution of this House.

I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 131, a resolution urging the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of ``In God We Trust'' in the Capitol Visitor Center.

The Pledge of Allegiance is an excellent example of national solidarity for all Americans and the foremost demonstration of America as ``one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.'' These words illustrate an eternal commitment to a nation unified by a common history, identity, and Constitution. The Pledge further represents that if God gives you a right, then no man should have the power to take it away. This is the premise of our nation, our rights, and our system of law, and it must be upheld in an effort to never lose sight of the fact that we are bound together as one nation--common in purpose-- endeavoring to provide an open and free democracy for all of mankind.

``In God We Trust'' was codified as our national motto in 1956 in recognition of the Judeo-Christian values upon which our nation is founded. Faith has always been a very important part of American history and culture, and I believe that it is imperative to uphold this cornerstone of our heritage to preserve the rights of all Americans to worship freely and openly. I am proud that my home state of Georgia has recognized ``God'' in its own Constitution and seeks to maintain a reliance on faith in God as one of its founding principles.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make clear that the Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto are two public illustrations of the values to which we hold firmly in America. These two principles are demonstrated in this very chamber by our opening of each legislative day with prayer and by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. One need look no further than behind the chair of the Speaker of this great body to see the inscription of ``In God We Trust.'' These two testaments of our founding must remain the stronghold of American values and continue to be espoused in every public meeting.

Therefore, it is with great pride and honor that I stand here today to advocate for the engraving of the Pledge of Allegiance and our national motto in the newly constructed Capitol Visitor Center. Displaying these two documents prominently in an open arena for all tourists and citizens is just one more reminder of the founding and enduring principles of our nation, of which we must be reminded daily. As lawmakers, we must never cease to instill the doctrine of democracy and freedom of religion for the entire world, and by displaying these words in our nation's capitol we are only reaffirming our dedication to this endeavor. I urge all of colleagues to support this resolution and to hold steadfast to the values upon which our great nation was founded.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding.

This legislation basically directs the Architect of the Capitol to quit ignoring history, just like the last piece of legislation where it is not mentioned anywhere in Emancipation Hall or the Visitor Center that this Capitol was built in due part by slave labor. Neither does that expensive Visitor Center mention any religious history that this country has.

I don't know if the Architect of the Capitol doesn't like the Pledge or approve of the national motto ``In God We Trust''; otherwise, both of those would already be in this expensive Visitor Center. Both mention God, and it appears that the Visitor Center, the way that it is conducted and constructed, wishes to disown and deny our religious heritage.

You go to the Visitor Center and you are led to believe, Mr. Speaker, that the national motto is not ``In God We Trust'' but it is ``E Pluribus Unum,'' because the national motto is never mentioned in the propaganda video that all people see when they come into the Visitor Center. Well, the national motto is not ``E Pluribus Unum.'' It is ``In God We Trust,'' and that is the national motto and it should remain as such.

Mr. Speaker, our religious history is a part of American history. When the Founders of this great country got together in the Continental Congress, before they decided to draft this new concept of freedom and liberty, Benjamin Franklin made the comment that if the good Lord is concerned about the birds that fall from the air, certainly he would be concerned about the birth of a new nation; and with that, the Members of the Continental Congress knelt down and they prayed. And, Mr. Speaker, we have continued that tradition every day since the Continental Congress.

We start every day the same way. When the House is called to order, the first order of business is a prayer. The second order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and it is important that we continue those traditions, but it is also important that people who come to the Capitol understand that is part of our routine.

Mr. Speaker, ``unless the Lord watches over this House, the builders build in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, those that watch watch in vain.''

Above the flag behind you, Mr. Speaker, is the phrase ``In God We

Trust.'' It is not to the side. It is not below it. It is above it, symbolic of what we do each day, that we pray and then we have the Pledge of Allegiance. So I strongly support this legislation to make sure that the Architect of the Capitol does not deny our religious history. Put it in its proper perspective, because religion is a part of our history, whether the Architect of the Capitol likes it or not.

And that's just the way it is.