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 Ken-
tucky, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. WAMP, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. JOR-
DAN of Ohio, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. WEST-
MORELAND, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. PENCE, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. 
BOOZMAN, Mr. ISSA, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of Cali-
fornia, 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 Na-
ture and of Nature’s God.’’ They then declared, ‘‘We 
hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are cre-
ated 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 Protec-
tion of divine Providence, . . . pledge to each other our 
Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.’’ The Dec-
laration 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, Con-
stitution, 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 unani-
mously 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 ac-
knowledging, with grateful hearts, the many favors of Al-
mighty 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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•HRES 1273 IH 
to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey 
his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to im-
plore 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 gov-
erning providence of a Supreme Being and of the Ac-
countableness 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 indi-
viduals 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, pro-
claimed 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 hom-
age due to His holy attributes . . .’’ 2 James D. Rich-
ardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the 
Presidents 498 (Bureau of National Literature, Inc.); 
Whereas President James Madison, on March 4, 1815, de-
clared ‘‘a day of thanksgiving and of devout acknowledg-
ments to Almighty God for His great goodness mani-
fested in restoring to them the blessing of peace. No peo-
ple ought to feel greater obligations to celebrate the good-
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•HRES 1273 IH 
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 reli-
gious 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 Sun-
day, 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 desig-
nating 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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•HRES 1273 IH 
Whereas all Presidents since 1952 have issued proclamations 
designating the National Day of Prayer each year: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the National Day of Prayer is constitu-
tional and a needed tribute to the value of prayer and a 
fitting acknowledgment of our Nation’s religious history. 
Æ 
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