IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1273 

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the National Day of Prayer. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 20, 2010 

Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. FORBES, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. HARPER, 

Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. WAMP, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. PENCE, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 

BOOZMAN, Mr. ISSA, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, and Mr. LATOURETTE) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the 

National Day of Prayer. 

Whereas in our Declaration of Independence, the Founders 

based their right to ‘‘dissolve the Political Bands which 

have connected them with another’’ on the ‘‘Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.’’ They then declared, ‘‘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.’’ They ended, 

‘‘We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States 

of America, . . . appealing to the Supreme Judge of the 


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•HRES 1273 IH 

World . . . do, . . . with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, . . . pledge to each other our 

Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.’’ The Declaration of Independence (1776); 

Whereas Article VII in the U.S. Constitution refers to ‘‘the 

Year of Our Lord’’, 1787. U.S. Const. art. VII; 

Whereas the First Congress not only acknowledged a proper 

role for religion in public life, but it did so at the very 

time it drafted the Establishment Clause. Just three days 

before Congress sent the text of the First Amendment to 

the States for ratification, it authorized the appointment 

of legislative chaplains. Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 

783, 788 (1983); 

Whereas both Houses of Congress open their daily sessions 

with prayer and, in recent years, recitation of the Pledge. 

See Senate Rule IV.1, Standing Rules of the Senate, S. 

Doc. No. 107–1, at 4 (2002); House Rule XIV.1, Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual, and Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H.R. Doc. No. 106–320, at 620 (2001); 

Whereas, on September 25, 1789, the First Congress unanimously approved a resolution calling on President George 

Washington to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving 

for the people of the United States by declaring, ‘‘a day 

of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity 

peaceably to establish a constitution of government for 

their safety and happiness’’ See Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 

U.S. 38, 101 (1985) (Rehnquist, J., dissenting); 

Whereas in Washington’s Proclamation of a Day of National 

Thanksgiving, he wrote that it is the ‘‘duty of all Nations 


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to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey 

his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor . . .’’ 30 The Writings of 

George Washington from the Original Manuscript 

Sources 1745–1799, at 427 (John C. Fitzpatrick ed., 

Gov’t Printing Office 1939); 

Whereas John Adams declared in 1799, ‘‘As no truth is more 

clearly taught in the Volume of Inspiration, nor any more 

fully demonstrated by the experience of all ages, than 

that a deep sense and due acknowledgment of the governing providence of a Supreme Being and of the Accountableness of men to Him as the searcher of heart 

and righteous distributor of rewards and punishments are 

conducive equally to the happiness and rectitude of individuals and to the well-being of communities . . . I do 

hereby recommend . . . to be observed throughout the 

United States as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, 

and prayer . . .’’ 9 The Works of John Adams 172 

(Charles F. Adams ed., 1850–56) (reprint by Books for 

Librarians Press, 1969); 

Whereas President James Madison, on July 9, 1812, proclaimed that the third Thursday in August ‘‘be set apart 

for the devout purposes of rendering the Sovereign of the 

Universe and the Benefactor of Mankind the public homage due to His holy attributes . . .’’ 2 James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the 

Presidents 498 (Bureau of National Literature, Inc.); 

Whereas President James Madison, on March 4, 1815, declared ‘‘a day of thanksgiving and of devout acknowledgments to Almighty God for His great goodness manifested in restoring to them the blessing of peace. No people ought to feel greater obligations to celebrate the goodVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:02 Apr 21, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1273.IH HR1273

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ness of the Great Disposer of Events and of the Destiny 

of Nations than the people of the United States.’’ 2 

James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages 

and Papers of the Presidents 546 (Bureau of National 

Literature, Inc.); 

Whereas a ‘‘National Day of Prayer’’ is provided for under 

section 119 of title 36, United States Code; 

Whereas in 1952, evangelist Billy Graham led a six week religious campaign in Washington, DC, holding events in the 

National Guard Armory and on the Capitol steps; 

Whereas that campaign culminated in a speech in which 

Graham called for a National Day of Prayer; 

Whereas, on April 17, 1952, Congress passed Public Law 

82–324, providing that: ‘‘The President shall set aside 

and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people 

of the United States may turn to God in prayer and 

meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals’’; 

Whereas, on April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman 

signed that legislation into law; 

Whereas, on May 5, 1988, Congress approved Public Law 

100–307, ‘‘setting aside the first Thursday in May as the 

date on which the National Day of Prayer is celebrated’’; 

Whereas, on May 9, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed 

the bill into law; 

Whereas the current version of the statute provides: ‘‘The 

President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of 

Prayer on which the people of the United States may 

turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in 

groups, and as individuals.’’; and 


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Whereas all Presidents since 1952 have issued proclamations 

designating the National Day of Prayer each year: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that the National Day of Prayer is constitu3 tional and a needed tribute to the value of prayer and a 

4 fitting acknowledgment of our Nation’s religious history. 

Æ 


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