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Forbes Introduces Resolution Reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the National Motto
Resolution Encourages the Display of “In God We Trust” in All Public Buildings and Government Institutions

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Washington, May 6 - Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that he has introduced a bipartisan resolution, H.CON.RES.274, reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. In addition, the Resolution supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.

“The essence of our nation is that rights belong to the individual, and that our rights are God-given and not granted by the government. The religious underpinnings of our nation are not evident merely because of the existence of a phrase ‘In God We Trust.’ Rather, the very foundation upon which our nation was built was a trust in God,” said Forbes.

“In God We Trust” has been a keystone phrase used throughout our nation’s history, from Presidential proclamations, to engravings in both the House and Senate chambers, to the national anthem, to the oath taken by all federal employees. In 1956, Congress enacted a federal law officially declaring “In God We Trust” as the national motto.

“Over the past several years, there have been growing efforts to strip references to America’s religious heritage, including our national motto, from federal buildings, documents and ceremonies across the nation. But our laws and our Constitution do not require exclusion of God from matters of government and public life. This Resolution seeks to reaffirm the foundation upon which our nation was built and acknowledges that trust in God is embedded into the fabric of society and history in the United States,” said Forbes.

The text of the “In God We Trust” Resolution is available here.

Congressman Forbes is founder and chairman of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 60 members of Congress whose purpose is to protect America’s religious heritage and the right of all Americans to pray according to their faith. Forbes, along with Members of the Prayer Caucus, led efforts to ensure that “In God We Trust” was included in the newly constructed Capitol Visitor Center after it had been removed and the national motto incorrectly noted as “E Pluribus Unum.”