 The June 2002 court decision in Newdow v. US increased Congressional activity relating to the Pledge of Allegiance’s “under God” phrase.
The chart below details the actions of the 110th Congress (2007-2008), 109th Congress (2005-2006), 108th Congress (2003-2004) and the 107th Congress (2001-2002) concerning the Pledge of Allegiance, presented in chronological order by date introduced. Click on a bill to see a more detailed description including recorded vote, co-sponsors, and the full text.
I. 110th Congress
| |
Bill |
Sponsor |
Date Introduced |
Description |
| 1. |
Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2008 (H.R. 6783) |
Rep. Paul C. Broun (R-GA) |
Aug. 1, 2008 |
Requires the government to withhold federal funds from schools that permit or require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem in a language other than English. |
| 2. |
Loyalty to Our Legacy Act of 2007 (S. 2409) |
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) |
Dec. 5, 2007 |
Requires the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” to be displayed prominently and permanently in the Capitol Visitor Center. The bill would also prohibit the architect of the Capitol to refuse including language or content relating to the Capitol Visitor Center on the grounds that the language or content includes religious or Judeo-Christian content. |
| 3. |
Loyalty to Our Legacy Act of 2007 (H.R. 3908)
|
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) |
Oct. 18, 2007 |
Requires the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” to be displayed prominently and permanently in the Capitol Visitor Center. The bill would also prohibit the architect of the Capitol to refuse including language or content relating to the Capitol Visitor Center on the grounds that the language or content includes religious or Judeo-Christian content. |
| 4. |
2007 Pledge Protection Act |
Rep. Todd Akin
(R-MO) |
Jan. 29, 2007 |
Amends the federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any federal court, and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court, to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance or its validity under the Constitution. |
II. 109th Congress
| |
Bill |
Sponsor |
Date Introduced |
Description |
| 1. |
Safeguarding Our Religious Liberties Act |
Rep. Charles Pickering
(R-MS) |
Dec. 16, 2005 |
Amends title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Motto. |
| 2. |
House Concurrent Resolution 253 |
Rep. Henry Bonilla
(R-TX) |
Sep. 27, 2005 |
Expresses the sense of the Congress that reciting the pledge of allegiance by students attending public schools contributes to the moral foundation of our Nation and urges the Supreme Court to uphold the pledge’s constitutionality. |
| 3. |
House Resolution 453 |
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter
(R-MI) |
Sep. 20, 2005 |
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to Newdow v. United States Congress. |
| 4. |
Senate Resolution 244 |
Sen. Ken Salazar
(D-CO) |
Sep. 15, 2005 |
Expresses Support for the Pledge of Allegiance. It was considered, and agreed to without amendment, and with a preamble, by Unanimous Consent. |
| 5. |
Senate Resolution 243 |
Sen. Jim Talent
(R-MO) |
Sep. 15, 2005 |
Expresses Support for the Pledge of Allegiance. It was considered, and agreed to without amendment, and with a preamble, by Unanimous Consent. |
| 6. |
House Concurrent Resolution 245 |
Rep. Darrell Issa
(R-CA) |
Sep. 15, 2005 |
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Supreme Court should speedily find the use of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools to be consistent with the Constitution of the United States. On Sep. 29, 2005 the bill passed the House of Representatives by roll call vote. |
| 7. |
Senate Joint Resolution 24 |
Sen. Mary Landrieu
(D-LA) |
Sep. 14, 2005 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and on United States currency. |
| 8. |
House Joint Resolution 57 |
Rep. Ernest Istook
(R-OK) |
June 30, 2005 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States protecting religious freedom. |
| 9. |
Veterans’ Memorials, Boy Scouts, Public Seals, and Other Public Expressions of Religion Protection Act of 2006 |
Rep. John Hostettler
(R-IN) |
May 26, 2005 |
Stops courts from awarding attorney fees to be paid for by defendants to plaintiffs in Pledge and other related cases. On Sep. 26, 2006 the bill passed the House of Representatives. |
| 10. |
House Pledge Protection Act 2005 |
Rep. Todd Akin
(R-MO) |
May 17, 2005 |
Bars federal courts from ruling on constitutional issues arising from the Pledge of Allegiance, including the ‘one nation, under God’ reference. On July 19, 2006 the bill passed the House of Representatives. |
| 11. |
Senate Pledge Protection Act 2005 |
Sen. Jon Kyl
(R-AZ) |
May 17, 2005 |
Bars federal courts from ruling on constitutional issues arising from the Pledge of Allegiance, including the ‘one nation, under God’ reference. |
III. 108th Congress
| |
Bill |
Sponsor |
Date Introduced |
Description |
| 1. |
Senate Resolution 378 |
Sen. John Cornyn
(R-TX) |
June 14, 2004 |
Designates June 14, 2004, as `National Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag Day’ and shows support for the pledge in the Senate where it was considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. |
| 2. |
Safeguarding Our Religious Liberties Act |
Rep. Charles Pickering
(R-MS) |
Sep. 25, 2003 |
Declares that among those powers reserved to the States and their political subdivisions are the powers to display the Ten Commandments, to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and to recite the national motto on or within property owned or administered by them. |
| 3. |
Religious Liberties Restoration Act |
Sen. Wayne Allard
(R-CO) |
Aug. 1, 2003 |
Restores religious liberties such as displaying the 10 Commandments, Pledge of Allegiance, and “In God We Trust” motto. |
| 4. |
Pledge Protection Act 2003 |
Sen. Orrin Hatch
(R-UT) |
Jun. 19, 2003 |
Amends title 28 of the United States Code with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. |
| 5. |
Pledge Protection Act 2004 |
Rep. Todd Akin
(R-MO) |
May 8, 2003 |
Amends title 28 of the United States Code with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. On Sep. 23, 2004 the bill passed the House of Representatives by roll call vote. |
| 6. |
House Resolution 132 |
Rep. Doug Ose
(R-CA) |
May 6, 2003 |
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Newdow v. United States Congress is inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the first amendment and should be overturned. On May 20, 2003 the bill passed the House of Representatives by roll call vote. |
| 7. |
House Joint Resolution 46 |
Rep. Ernest Istook
(R-OK) |
Apr. 9, 2003 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to restore religious liberties such as Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the display of the Ten Commandments, and voluntary school prayer. |
| 8. |
House Joint Resolution 40 |
Rep. Charles Pickering
(R-MS) |
Mar. 18, 2003 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto. |
| 9. |
House Joint Resolution 39 |
Rep. John Carter
(R-TX) |
Mar. 13, 2003 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to references to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and on United States coins and currency |
| 10. |
Senate Resolution 71 |
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
(R-AK) |
Mar. 4, 2003 |
Expresses support for the Pledge of Allegiance where it was agreed to, with an amendment and with a preamble, by a Yea-Nay Vote. |
| 11. |
Senate Joint Resolution 7 |
Sen. Mary Landrieu
(D-LA) |
Mar. 3, 2003 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and on United States currency. |
| 12. |
House Joint Resolution 26 |
Rep. Frank Lucas
(R-OK) |
Feb. 27, 2003 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect the Pledge of Allegiance. |
IV. 107th Congress
| |
Bill |
Sponsor |
Date Introduced |
Description |
| 1. |
Senate Joint Resolution 43 |
Sen. Trent Lott
(R-MS) |
Aug. 1, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto. |
| 2. |
House Joint Resolution 108 |
Rep. Charles Pickering
(R-MS) |
July 25, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to use and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto. |
| 3. |
Pledge Protection Act 2002 |
Rep. Todd Akin
(R-MO) |
July 8, 2002 |
Amends title 28 of the United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| 4. |
Senate Bill 2690 |
Sen. Tim Hutchinson
(R-AR) |
June 27, 2002 |
Reaffirms the reference to “one Nation, under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. This bill passed in the Senate by a roll call vote. The Bill was later approved by the House on Oct. 8, 2002 and became Public Law No: 107-293 on Nov. 13, 2002. |
| 5. |
House Joint Resolution 104 |
Rep. Frank Lucas
(R-OK) |
June 27, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to protect the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| 6. |
House Joint Resolution 103 |
Rep. Raymond Green
(D-TX) |
June 27, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| 7. |
Senate Resolution 292 |
Sen. Thomas Daschle
(D-SD) |
June 27, 2002 |
Expresses support for the Pledge of Allegiance. This bill passed in the Senate by a roll call vote. |
| 8. |
Senate Joint Resolution 39 |
Sen. Mary Landrieu
(D-LA) |
June 26, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance and on United States currency. |
| 9. |
House Resolution 466 |
Rep. Steve Israel
(D-NY) |
June 26, 2002 |
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in schools is constitutional, that the Congress deplores the decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and that the House of Representatives encourages every American to start their day by reciting the Pledge. |
| 10. |
House Resolution 459 |
Rep. James Sensenbrenner
(R-WI) |
June 26, 2002 |
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Newdow v. U.S. Congress was erroneously decided. On June 27, 2002 the bill passed the House of Representatives by roll call vote. |
| 11. |
House Joint Resolution 102 |
Rep. Charles Pickering
(R-MS) |
June 26, 2002 |
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. |
| 12. |
House Concurrent Resolution 430 |
Rep. Bob Riley
(R-AL) |
June 26, 2002 |
Expresses the sense of the Congress concerning the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| 13. |
House Concurrent Resolution 428 |
Rep. Van Hilleary
(R-TN) |
June 26, 2002 |
Expresses the sense of the Congress that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools is constitutional under the First Amendment to the Constitution, and urging the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of such practices. |
| 14. |
Students’ Rights Resolution of 2001 |
Rep. Lamar Smith
(R-TX) |
June 21, 2001 |
Proposes recognizing the authority of public schools to allow students to exercise their constitutional rights by establishing a period of time for silent prayer or meditation or reflection, encouraging the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, and refusing to discriminate against individuals or groups on account of their religious character or speech. |
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