Extension of Remarks
Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives that Newdow v. U.S. Congress was Erroneously Decided
The Honorable Ander Crenshaw
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The Court stated that the Pledge "impermissibly takes a position with respect to the purely religious question of the existence and identity of God." Furthermore, the Court concluded that the Pledge places children in the "untenable position of choosing between participating in an exercise with religious content or protesting."
I vehemently disagree with the Court and rise in strong support of H. Res. 459, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that this case was erroneously decided. The Court's ruling is contrary to the vast weight of Supreme Court authority recognizing that the mere mention of God in a public setting is not contrary to any reasonable reading of the First Amendment.
The Pledge of Allegiance is not a religious service or a prayer, but it is a statement of historical beliefs. The Pledge represents everything that unites us. It is a reminder of the ideals that we all share?patriotism, loyalty, and love of country. While I firmly believe in the separation of church and state, I also believe that the Constitution was not designed to drive religious expression out of public sight.
Our people are part of a culture where many believe in God and value the fact that religion played an important role in the founding of this great nation. The United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is firmly out of touch with what is good and right in America and with the vast majority of this country's people and I trust that this fundamentally flawed decision will be quickly overturned.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I added my name as a cosposnor to this resolution and I urge my colleagues to join me and send a strong message to all Americans that they should be proud of the religious heritage of America by supporting H. Res. 459.
-End-
Extension of Remarks
Congratulating the Navy League of the United States on the Occasion
of the Centennial of the Organization's Founding
The Honorable Ander Crenshaw
Monday, June 24, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Concurrent Resolution 416 and congratulate the Navy League of the United States for 100 years of outstanding service.
The Navy League is a civilian organization that provides a valuable service to military communities across the United States. Their programs, such as the Naval Sea Cadet and the Navy Junior ROTC programs, are dedicated to increasing the educational and life experiences of this countries youth. Each year, many deserving high school students are the beneficiaries of generous Navy League scholarships and awards.
I am fortunate enough to have 2 separate Navy Leagues in my district, the Jacksonville Navy League and the Mayport Navy League. The members of both of these organizations dedicate their time, skills, expertise and other resources to help improve the lives of the men and women of the Navy, Coast Guard and Marines and their families. The Mayport League has sponsored commissioning of local new ships, most recently the USS Roosevelt; and both leagues have honored local Navy, Coast Guard and Marine personnel through the Sailor of the Year luncheon and the annual Midway Memorial Dinner. This resolution allows Congress to honor the commitment to this nation by the Navy League and its dedicated members.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride today that I say happy 100th birthday to the Navy League, especially the local Jacksonville and Mayport councils.
