Edward M. Kennedy: “What we have attempted to include in the conference report is what is existing law with the clear opportunity that it…”

“What we have attempted to include in the conference report is what is existing law with the clear opportunity that it could be altered or changed in the House or in the Senate, on education or any other topic. We also made that permanent. Senator Danforth is here, and he made, I think, one of the very eloquent and most compelling presentations on this issue during the course of the debate, and received a 97 to 0 vote. And Senator Levin's amendment was accepted on a voice vote without a single objection, related to this same subject. The House of Representatives, without any kind of language. And we come back with that language which I have just referred to that says: No funds to be appropriated under this act may be used by any State or local educational agencies to adopt policies that prevent voluntary prayer and meditation in public schools. I think we have fulfilled the responsibility of the Senate.”