Members of Congress push amendments to keep `under God' in pledge. (People & Events).Members of the House of Representatives and Senate are busy introducing constitutional amendments that would permit public schools to sponsor recitation rec·i·ta·tion n. 1. a. The act of reciting memorized materials in a public performance. b. The material so presented. 2. a. Oral delivery of prepared lessons by a pupil. b. of the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. , including the phrase "under God." Many members of Congress reacted with outrage June 26 when a federal appeals court in California ruled that the 1954 act of Congress inserting the words "under God" into the Pledge was unconstitutional. The ruling, which has been appealed, also held that school-sponsored recitation of the Pledge is unconstitutional because of its religious content. In the days following the decision, several members vowed to sponsor constitutional amendments to protect the Pledge. Two months later, four have been introduced--three in the House and one in the Senate. The most popular House vehicle is H.J. Res. 108, introduced by U.S. Rep. Charles W. "Chip" Picketing Jr. (R-Miss.) and 10 other Republicans. It contains two sections, the first stating the First Amendment shall not be interpreted to "prohibit the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" and the second permitting the "recitation or use of the national-motto, which shall be, `In God we trust.'" The measure was introduced July 25. Its co-sponsors included Reps. Joseph Pitts (Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito Shelley Moore Capito (born Shelley Wellons Moore on November 26 1953) is an American politician. She has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the West Virginia's 2nd congressional district (map). (W. Va.), Robin Hayes Robert "Robin" Hayes (born August 14 1945) is a Republican Congressman from North Carolina. He has represented the state's 8th Congressional district (map) in the House of Representatives since 1999. The district stretches from Charlotte to Fayetteville. (N.C.), J.C. Watts (Okla.), Charlie Norwood Charles Whitlow Norwood, Jr. (July 27 1941 – February 13 2007) was an American politician and dentist, serving as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until his death. (Ga.), Zach Wamp Zachary Paul "Zach" Wamp (born October 28, 1957) is a Republican politician representing the 3rd Congressional district of Tennessee (map) since 1995. The district is based in Chattanooga and includes large parts of East Tennessee, including Oak Ridge. (Tenn.), Henry E. Brown Jr. (S.C.), John Thune John Randolph Thune (born January 7, 1961) is the junior Republican U.S. Senator from the state of South Dakota. Early life and family Thune was born in Pierre, South Dakota to Yvonne Patricia Bodine and Harold Richard Thune; his paternal grandfather was an immigrant (S.D.), Kevin Brady Kevin Patrick Brady (born April 11, 1955) is a Republican politician from the state of Texas. Brady was born in Vermillion, South Dakota, one of five children of William and Nancy Brady. His father, a lawyer, was killed in 1967 in a courtroom shooting in Rapid City, S.D. (Texas) and Michael G. Oxley (Ohio). Two other House measures avoid the national motto issue and deal strictly with the Pledge. Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.) put forward an amendment (H.J. Res. 104) stating that it is not "an establishment of religion" for teachers to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Texas Democrat Rep. Gene Green's version (H.J. Res. 103) states, "Nothing in the first amendment to this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance...." Lucas' measure has one other cosponsor co·spon·sor tr.v. co·spon·sored, co·spon·sor·ing, co·spon·sors To function in the capacity of a joint sponsor of: corporations that cosponsored a marathon. n. , Rep. Wes Watkins (R-Okla.). Green's has none. A proposal is also pending in the Senate. There Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) have introduced S.J. Res. 39, which states, "A reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance or on United States currency shall not be construed as affecting the establishment of religion under the first article of this Constitution." The measure currently has no cosponsors. The controversial Pledge ruling, Newdow v. US Congress, came in response to a lawsuit filed by Michael Newdow, a California atheist who argued that the rights of his 8-year-old daughter were violated by school-sponsored recitation of a flag pledge that includes religious language. In early August, the U.S. Justice Department formally asked the full panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the decision. If the full panel declines, the case could be appealed to the Supreme Court. TV preacher Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice has also filed a legal brief asking the entire 9th Circuit panel to overturn the ruling. Sixteen Republican House members signed on to the brief: Robert Aderholt (Ala.); Todd Akin (Mo.); Chris Cannon (Utah); Michael Collins (Ga.); Jo Ann Davis This article is about a recently deceased person. Some information, such as the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. (Va.); John Doolittle (Calif.); Jeff Flake (Ariz); Lindsey Graham (S.C.); Duncan Hunter, (Calif.); Ernest Istook, Jr. (Okla.); Donald Manzullo (Ill.), Charles Pickering, Jr. (Miss.); Bob Riley (Ala.); Jim Ryun (Kan.); J.C. Watts (Okla.); and Dave Weldon (Fla.). Joining them was Virgil Goode, a Virginia Independent. |
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