ACLJ Applauds Senate Vote to Protect Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego.

WASHINGTON -- The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) today applauded the U.S. Senate for joining with the U.S. House of Representatives in approving a measure to keep in place the Mt. Soledad cross in San Diego - part of a war memorial for 50 years. The Senate last night passed legislation by unanimous consent joining with the House which passed legislation in July which designates that the memorial be transferred to the federal government giving the Department of Defense authority to oversee it. The legislative victory comes on the heels of a Supreme Court order staying a federal court order that called for the removal of the cross.

"The Senate action clears the way for a legislative solution to keep the Mt. Soledad cross in place," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which is involved in the legal battle to save the cross. "With the Senate approval - coupled with the House vote last month approving the legislation - Congress has acted appropriately and in a bipartisan manner to protect a vital war memorial that honors so many men and women who gave their lives for this nation. The Congressional action underscores what most Americans understand - that the Mt. Soledad cross poses no constitutional crisis in honoring our war heroes. We look forward to President Bush signing this legislation. The legislative victory comes as legal efforts to protect the cross continue. The fact is that the San Diego memorial has captured the attention of the Supreme Court, Congress and the American people. We remain confident that the Mt. Soledad cross will stay in place."

The ACLJ has been involved in working to keep the Mt. Soledad cross in place. The ACLJ represents 22 members of Congress - including Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) - who sponsored the House measure which passed last month by a wide margin.

The ACLJ filed an amicus brief (posted online at www.aclj.org) with the Supreme Court successfully arguing that the federal district court's order should be stayed because important constitutional issues have been raised and that federal and state appeals have not been exhausted.

In addition to Congressman Hunter, the ACLJ also represents the following members of Congress: Todd Akin, Gresham Barrett, Eric Cantor, Michael Conaway, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, Phil Gingery, Gil Gutknecht, Jack Kingston, John Kline, Kenny Marchant, Patrick McHenry, Mike McIntyre, Gary Miller, Marilyn Musgrave, Randy Neugebauer, Joseph Pitts, Jim Ryun, Todd Tiahrt, Dave Weldon, and Lynn Westmoreland.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice specializes in constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. The ACLJ is online at www.aclj.org.