WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in the U. S. House of Representatives, Third District Representative Walter B. Jones voted in favor of H.R. 2389, the Pledge Protection Act of 2005. Introduced by Rep. Todd Akin (MO) in response to a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declaring the phrase "under God" unconstitutional, H.R. 2389 would protect the Pledge of Allegiance from Federal court decisions that would invalidate the Pledge across several states. Congressman Jones is an original cosponsor of H.R. 2389, which passed 260 to 167.

“The inclusion of the words ‘under God’ in our nation’s Pledge is a recognition that America was built on a foundation of Judeo-Christian principles,” Jones said. “This legislation will ensure that activist Federal judges do not ban the Pledge of Allegiance from our nation’s schools or prevent citizens from recognizing America’s founding principles when they recite the Pledge.”

“Our founding fathers ratified the First Amendment with the intention of preventing the government from coercing citizens to become members of a particular religion or penalizing citizens for their religious beliefs – not to remove all mention of religion from public life,” Jones said.

The Pledge Protection Act of 2005 amends the Federal judicial code to deny Federal and appellate jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to question the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge Protection Act also reserves to state courts the authority to decide whether the Pledge is valid within each state’s boundaries. According to Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution, Congress is granted the power to limit the jurisdiction of Federal courts. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

For additional information or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.