WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Todd Akin's (R-MO) Pledge Protection Act (PPA) which protects the Pledge of Allegiance from attempts by federal courts to declare it unconstitutional because of the phrase "under God". The PPA was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 260.
Congressman Todd Akin issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Pledge Protection Act:
"I am thankful for the support of the House Republican leadership displayed during the passage of the Pledge Protection Act.
"I am also encouraged that my colleagues were not persuaded by the hand wringing of Liberal activists who show no concern at the court's desire to create some imagined utopia at the expense of the separation of powers and the constitution itself.
"For federal courts to suggest that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because of the words "under God" and to therefore prohibit children from reciting it would be to turn the first amendment upon its head to use it as an instrument of censorship.
"The House today acted within its authority to check the judiciary as it ignores its proper constitutional role."
