Whitfield Votes for Pledge Protection Act | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Votes for Pledge Protection Act WASHINGTON, July 19 - U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield today voted in favor of a bill that would protect the phrase under God in the Pledge of Allegiance from future court challenges.

Whitfield cosponsored the bill, the Pledge Protection Act, which passed the House by a vote of 260 to 167.

"The Pledge of Allegiance is part of our common heritage as Americans. It should not be open to constant revisionism by a minority of people out of step with the views of mainstream America," said Whitfield.

The issue of protecting the Pledge of Allegiance gained prominence in 2003 when the Ninth Judicial Circuit in California ruled the Pledge unconstitutional because it referenced the words under God in its text. The Supreme Court ultimately overturned the ruling on technical grounds, leaving open the possibility that the Pledge could be attacked in future court filings.

Whitfield continued, "Today's vote is a strong response to the activist, liberal groups who seek to use the courts to remove or rewrite American traditions. The Pledge occupies a special place in the history and heritage of our country, and I am proud that the House took a strong stand on the issue. I urge the Senate to take up consideration of this important bill as soon as possible."

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