Washington, D.C.- Congressman Todd Akin will join Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Brownback (R-KS) at a press conference on June 14th at the Upper Senate Park at 12:30 pm eastern. The press conference will discuss legislation introduced by Congressman Akin and Senator Kyl. The legislation which was originally introduced by Congressman Akin would protect American's free speech by removing jurisdiction of lower federal courts to rule on the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. The power of Congress to limit the jurisdiction of lower federal courts is granted in Article III of the Constitution.
Introduced in response to a decision by the Ninth Circuit declaring the phrase "under God" unconstitutional, Akin's Pledge Protection Act (PPA) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 247 to 173 during the 108th Congress, but failed to be approved by the Senate.
A case similar to the original case filed by California atheist Newdow, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court on a technicality is likely to prevail in the 9th Circuit and revive the legal challenge to the Constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Congressman Akin has long held that, "The idea that there is a God, and that God grants rights to humankind and that the essential purpose of government is to protect these rights is a fundamental principle. It is also a principle that is central to our Nation's Declaration of Independence. Congress must take positive steps to protect the freedom of Americans to express their allegiance to this principle."
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