James Sensenbrenner, June 28, 2002

Just one week before our nation’s Independence Day, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came out with a ruling declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the words "under God" that were added by Congress in 1954.

While the court’s decision was being reported by the media, I was chairing the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on H.R. 5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002. As a matter of fact, the Judiciary Committee was listening to testimony by Governor Tom Ridge, Director of Homeland Security. This legislation, offered by President Bush, and introduced by House Majority Leader Dick Armey, would establish a new federal department dedicated to assessing, preventing, and responding to homeland security threats.

H.R. 5005 came about because of the events of last year. On September 11, 2001, our nation was attacked by foreign terrorists. On June 26, 2002, with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision, our nation suffered a different kind of blow. This one wasn’t caused by foreigners, and it didn’t cost any lives. Instead, it was an attack on the values and soul of our nation, made by Americans we rely on to look out for the best interests of our nation.

Rarely has any court - even the notoriously liberal Ninth Circuit - shown such disdain for the Constitution, an Act of Congress, and our American traditions. If 9/11 brought the country together by renewing people’s sense of patriotism and instilling a newfound appreciation for the American way of life, then the 6/26 court decision took some of that away by diminishing a part of our American heritage. This is why I promptly introduced a resolution stating that the court’s decision was erroneous, and the phrase "One Nation, under God" should remain in the Pledge of Allegiance. The House passed it on June 27, by an overwhelming vote of 416 - 3, with 11 Members voting ‘Present’.

The Pledge of Allegiance is recited everywhere - in schools, at ballgames, in Congress, and even at the various picnics and events that take place in Wisconsin around the Fourth of July. Although always an important day in our lives, Independence Day this year will have more meaning for many Americans. There will be empty seats at picnics and family gatherings around the nation because someone’s father, mother, child, sibling, or friend was a victim of the terrorists last year. For their families, the day will be more solemn than it has been in the past. I encourage everyone to take a few moments to pay tribute to those who aren’t here anymore, just as we do to our forefathers who sacrificed their lives for our country, and who gave us our independence. I encourage everyone to think about the history of our nation, and especially, to think about those who aren’t with us as a result of last year’s events. And finally, given that the Fourth of July is a day when Americans celebrate th

We are after all, "one Nation, under God."

James Sensenbrenner is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin.