III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 715 

Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 

Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. MORAN, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. RUBIO, 

Mr. CRAMER, Mrs. CAPITO, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Mr. 

BOOZMAN, Mr. RISCH, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. 

GRASSLEY, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. ERNST, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. 

INHOFE, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. CORNYN, and Mr. COTTON) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Whereas the United States was founded on principles of religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were 

deeply religious; 

Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the 

United States embodies principles intended to guarantee 

freedom of religion both through the free exercise thereof 

and by prohibiting the Government from establishing a 

religion; 

Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist Minister, and first published in the September 8, 1892, issue of the Youth’s Companion; 


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•SRES 715 ATS 

Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ‘‘under God’’ to 

the Pledge of Allegiance; 

Whereas, for over 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance has included references to the United States flag, to the country having been established as a union ‘‘under God’’, and 

to the country being dedicated to securing ‘‘liberty and 

justice for all’’; 

Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance; 

Whereas the Senate of the 116th Congress believes that the 

Pledge of Allegiance is a constitutional expression of patriotism; 

Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal 

tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain 

general references to ‘‘God’’; 

Whereas the Supreme Court overturned Newdow v. United 

States Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case 

in which the United States Court of Appeals for the 

Ninth Circuit held that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a student’s public school teacher violated the 

Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the 

Constitution of the United States; and 

Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth 

Circuit later concluded that its previous opinion in 

Newdow was no longer binding precedent, that case law 

from the Supreme Court of the United States concerning 

the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the 

Constitution of the United States had subsequently 

changed, and that Congress, when passing the new 

version of the Pledge of Allegiance, established a secular 

purpose for the use of the terms ‘‘under God’’ and, thus, 


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•SRES 715 ATS 

the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 

upheld the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Pledge of Allegiance has been a valuable 

3 part of life for the people of the United States for 

4 generations; and 

5 (2) the Senate strongly defends the constitu6 tionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Æ 


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