IV 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 13 

Reaffirming ‘‘In God We Trust’’ as the official motto of the United States 

and supporting and encouraging the public display of the national motto 

in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 26, 2011 

Mr. FORBES (for himself, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. 

GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. JONES, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. 

ROSS of Arkansas, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. GARRETT, Mr. COFFMAN of 

Colorado, Mr. PENCE, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. SHUSTER, 

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. KLINE, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. 

BURGESS, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. BACHUS, 

Mr. FLORES, Mr. ALEXANDER, and Mr. WOLF) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming ‘‘In God We Trust’’ as the official motto of 

the United States and supporting and encouraging the 

public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. 

Whereas ‘‘In God We Trust’’ is the official motto of the 

United States; 

Whereas the sentiment, ‘‘In God We Trust’’, has been an integral part of United States society since its founding; 


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•HCON 13 IH 

Whereas in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people 

of the United States have turned to God as their source 

for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction; 

Whereas the Declaration of Independence recognizes God, our 

Creator, as the source of our rights, ‘‘We hold these 

truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, 

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 

unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and 

the pursuit of happiness.’’; 

Whereas the national anthem of the United States says 

‘‘praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation . . . and this be our motto: in God is our trust.’’; 

Whereas the words ‘‘In God We Trust’’ appear over the entrance to the Senate Chamber and above the Speaker’s 

rostrum in the House Chamber; 

Whereas the oath taken by all Federal employees, except the 

President, states ‘‘I will well and faithfully discharge the 

duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help 

me God.’’; 

Whereas John Adams said, ‘‘Statesmen may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, 

which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom 

can securely stand.’’; 

Whereas if religion and morality are taken out of the marketplace of ideas, the very freedom on which the United 

States was founded cannot be secured; 

Whereas as President Eisenhower said and President Ford 

later repeated, ‘‘Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor, an American way of life.’’; 

and 


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•HCON 13 IH 

Whereas President John F. Kennedy said, ‘‘The guiding principle and prayer of this Nation has been, is now, and ever 

shall be ‘In God We Trust.’ ’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress reaffirms ‘‘In God We Trust’’ 

3 as the official motto of the United States and supports 

4 and encourages the public display of the national motto 

5 in all public buildings, public schools, and other govern6 ment institutions. 

Æ 


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