Bob Schaffer: “Right here on our American currency, we find the motto we are debating here today, ``In God We Trust.'' There is nothing…”

“Right here on our American currency, we find the motto we are debating here today, ``In God We Trust.'' There is nothing controversial about it. This is the motto that is on all American currency. It is something we live with routinely in the United States. In fact, it is one of the reasons I submit, the meaning of it, that we are the great and mighty Nation that we are today. This is not something to be afraid of or ashamed of. This is a motto we should be quite proud of and be proud to display it around the country. As to whether the Supreme Court has come close to even ruling on ``In God We Trust,'' the reality is they have considered the national motto and its relevance and its constitutionality, and that is the basis of many of the findings in the resolution itself. There are several cases that I would refer the gentleman to and other Members who are interested in the Supreme Court's record on the national motto. There is Lynch v. Donnelly from 1984. There is also Engel v. Vitale, which is a more recent case. There is Abington v. Schempp; Gaylor v. The United States, a more recent Supreme Court decision about displaying and teaching of the motto to public school children has a valid secular purpose. And so our Supreme Court has ruled on this question over and over and over again.”