III
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 309
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 21, 2021
Mr. Braun (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Hagerty, and Mr. Rounds) 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 religious 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 through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the Government from 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, in 1954, Congress added the words under God
to the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance has included references to the United States flag, to the United States having been established as a union under God
, and to the United States being dedicated to securing liberty and justice for all
;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the Senate of the 117th Congress believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is a constitutional expression of patriotism;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain general references to God
;
Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit subsequently concluded that—
the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding precedent;
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 after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and
Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of the term under God
; and
Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now, therefore, be it
That—
the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable part of life for the people of the United States for generations; and
the Senate strongly defends the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.