Title: A resolution designating the week of September 27, 2020, through October 3, 2020, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution designates September 27-October 3, 2020, as Religious Education Week.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 750 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 750

Designating the week of September 27, 2020, through October 3, 2020, as 
 ``Religious Education Week'' to celebrate religious education in the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             October 21 (legislative day, October 19), 2020

  Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cassidy, Mrs. 
 Loeffler, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, 
 Mr. Braun, and Mr. Daines) submitted the following resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week of September 27, 2020, through October 3, 2020, as 
 ``Religious Education Week'' to celebrate religious education in the 
                             United States.

Whereas the free exercise of religion is an inherent, fundamental, and 
        inalienable right protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution 
        of the United States;
Whereas the United States has long recognized that the free exercise of religion 
        is important to the intellectual, ethical, moral, and civic development 
        of individuals in the United States, as evidenced by founders of the 
        United States, such as--

    (1) Benjamin Franklin, who believed religion to be ``uniquely capable 
of educating a citizenry for democracy''; and

    (2) George Washington, who said in his farewell address, ``Of all the 
dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and 
morality are indispensable supports.'';

Whereas religious education is useful for self-development, because it asks 
        students to consider and respond to questions concerning the meaning and 
        purpose of life, engages students in questions about morality and 
        justice, and enables students to identify their values;
Whereas studies like the one published by the International Journal of Mental 
        Health Systems in 2019 have shown that religious education can be 
        ``instrumental to improving adolescent mental health'' by helping 
        children learn how to make decisions based on morals, promoting less 
        risky choices, and encouraging connectedness within a community, which 
        can enhance self-esteem and well-being;
Whereas religious education fosters respect for other religious groups and 
        individuals generally by acknowledging a source for human dignity and 
        worth;
Whereas the United States Supreme Court found in Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 
        268 U.S. 510 (1925) that the State does not have power ``to standardize 
        its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers 
        only. The child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture 
        him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, 
        to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.'';
Whereas religious instruction can come from a variety of sources, including 
        sectarian schools and released time programs;
Whereas, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2015, 
        4,350,000 children in the United States attended sectarian elementary 
        and secondary schools where those children received religious education; 
        and
Whereas the United States Supreme Court held in Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U.S. 306 
        (1952) that State statutes providing for the release of public school 
        students from school to attend religious classes are constitutional, 
        and, as a result, an estimated 540,000 public school students in the 
        United States take advantage of released time programs each year: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) affirms the importance of religious education in the 
        civic and moral development of the people of the United States;
            (2) celebrates the schools and organizations that are 
        engaged in religious instruction of the children of the United 
        States to aid those children in intellectual, ethical, moral, 
        and civic development;
            (3) calls on each of the 50 States, each territory, and the 
        District of Columbia to accommodate individuals who wish to be 
        released from public school attendance to attend religious 
        classes; and
            (4) designates the week of September 27, 2020, through 
        October 3, 2020, as ``Religious Education Week''.
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