HR0091 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0091 LRB094 07027 CSA 37166 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In its original form, the Pledge of Allegiance - written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892 issue of the Youth's Companion - read "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"; and

WHEREAS, With two revisions between 1892 and 1924, the Pledge of Allegiance read "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"; and

WHEREAS, On Flag Day, June 14, 1954, after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus and with public support, Congress passed and President Eisenhower signed into law a statute that amended the Pledge of Allegiance to read "one nation under God, indivisible"; and

WHEREAS, The Pledge of Allegiance (Pledge) is a verbal expression, the effect of which is to instill support for the nation, the flag, and the principles for which the flag stands; its recitation is not a religious exercise; and

WHEREAS, The Pledge, including the phrase "one Nation under God", reflects the historical fact that a belief in God permeated the founding and development of our Nation; it is a recognition of the fact that many people believe in God and the value that our culture has traditionally placed on the role of religion in our founding and our culture; and

WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the Constitution embodies principles intended to guarantee freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof and by prohibiting the government establishing a religion; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court has recognized that governmental entities may, consistent with the First Amendment, recognize the religious heritage of America; and

WHEREAS, Patriotic songs, engravings on U.S. legal tender, and engravings on federal buildings contain general references to "God"; and

WHEREAS, Congress has consistently supported the Pledge by starting each session with its recitation; and

WHEREAS, The Pledge is recited, on average, tens of millions of times a day, largely by students in schools across America; and

WHEREAS, The practice of voluntarily reciting the Pledge in public school classrooms should not only continue but should be encouraged by the policies of Congress, the various states, municipalities, and public school officials; and

WHEREAS, Those who do not share the beliefs expressed in the Pledge or who do not wish to pledge allegiance to the flag have the right to refrain from its recitation; and

WHEREAS, The phrase "one Nation under God" reflects that religious faith was central to the Founding Fathers, and thus to the founding of the Nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we revere the United States flag and the Pledge of Allegiance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the continued use of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.