FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 21, 2003
CONTACT: LINDA MACIAS/PAUL TODD (202) 225-6161

Baca votes to keep Pledge of Allegiance in schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Joe Baca (D-CA) today joined members of the House of Representatives in voting for a resolution that supports the voluntary recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public classrooms. H. Res. 132 states that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was wrong when it ruled that students in public schools could not voluntarily recite the Pledge of Allegiance because it unconstitutionally endorsed religion. The resolution passed the House. Below is Baca's statement:

"The Ninth Circuit needs to revisit this issue right away, especially with the war beginning. It's absolutely the wrong thing to do to tell our children that they can't say the Pledge of Allegiance in school, especially when we have troops deployed overseas and fighting for our country."

"Our veterans have fought and died for the ideals that the Pledge teaches our children. We can't take it away now when it's needed most to help our children understand what it is that our men and women in uniform are fighting for today. Our troops need to know that we are behind them, and one of the best ways to show our support is to affirm our allegiance to our nation and its ideals."

"The Pledge of Allegiance teaches our children the most basic American values - values we all share - of liberty, freedom, justice, and equality. If that's wrong, then I don't know what's right anymore."

"This isn't about one religion or the other. 'Under God' does not refer to any one religion, or to religion in general. It refers more to our oneness as a nation, united for a higher, more noble purpose."

 

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