HJ 78 IH1S

105th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. J. RES. 78

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 8, 1997

Mr. ISTOOK (for himself, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. ARMEY, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BLILEY, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CALLAHAN, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. CAMPBELL, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mrs. CHENOWETH, Mr. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. COBURN, Mr. COLLINS, Mr. COMBEST, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. COOK, Mr. CRANE, Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. DELAY, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DICKEY, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. DUNCAN, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. GINGRICH, Mr. GOODE, Mr. GOODLING, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HILL, Mr. HILLEARY, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES, Mr. KASICH, Mr. KIM, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LARGENT, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. LINDER, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LIVINGSTON, Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. MCINTOSH, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. MICA, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUMANN, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. PARKER, Mr. PAUL, Mr. PAXON, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. PITTS, Mr. POMBO, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. RILEY, Mr. ROGERS, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SKEEN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mrs. LINDA SMITH of Washington, Mr. SNOWBARGER, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. STENHOLM, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. THUNE, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission for ratification:

Article--

`SECTION 1. To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. The Government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion.'.