Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) today voted to protect our Pledge of Allegiance by preventing judicial activists from questioning the constitutionality of the phrase “under God.” Additionally, the Pledge Protection Act impedes attempts by the federal courts to ban the Pledge of Allegiance from schools because it mentions “One nation, under God.” The Congressman’s statement is below:

“Without a doubt, America is a blessed nation and the words “under God” pay homage to the source of that divine favor. The liberals who attempt to use the courts to strip this recognition from our Pledge of Allegiance are showing their hatred for the Higher Power who endows us with freedom at birth and liberty for life.”

“Our Pledge of Allegiance reaffirms the loyalties that distinguish us from other nations around the world: God, country and family.”

The Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 2389) prohibits any federal court – including the U.S. Supreme Court in an appellate case – from hearing or deciding any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution of, the Pledge of Allegiance. As such, the bill would not affect any state court’s ability to hear a state case regarding the Pledge, though any decision from such a case would affect only that one state.

The following organizations publicly supported the Pledge Protection Act: Family Research Council, Eagle Forum and Traditional Values Coalition.

H.R. 2389 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 260 to 167.