Cliff Stearns: “I rise to lend my voice to allow every American citizen the fundamental right to express their religious faith on public…”

“I rise to lend my voice to allow every American citizen the fundamental right to express their religious faith on public grounds. The previous speaker from Maryland, my good colleague, has indicated that the States are starting to do what we are trying to do here in Congress. So the fever and the enthusiasm to have voluntary prayer is spreading across this Nation already, and I think it goes to the heart of the matter that we in Congress need to do this on a national basis. In fact, in a recent poll in which voters were asked about moral issues that are confronting this Nation, almost 70 percent agree that America needs a religious freedom amendment that would simply allow voluntary prayer. Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Franklin rose during the gathering of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and stated, quote, the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of men, end quote. He went on to suggest at that point that the Convention begin its very own sessions with prayer 'imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations.' We pray in the Senate, we pray in the House. We are simply asking for voluntary prayer today. Why can not schoolchildren rise today, just as Benjamin Franklin did 211 years ago, and ask for God's providence and assistance at the start of their day?”