Ernest Istook: “I would note, too, that it is not only the Founding Fathers of the country as a whole that were so desirous of making…”

“I would note, too, that it is not only the Founding Fathers of the country as a whole that were so desirous of making sure that we expressed our reliance upon God for our rights and for our values that we teach to our children and want to pass on from one generation to another, it was not just those who founded the United States, but also those who have served as Founding Fathers of our different States have seen fit to incorporate language into our State constitutions that acknowledges our reliance upon Divine Providence. For example, the different State constitutions, each and every one of them, all 50 States include an express reference to God within their State constitutions. I mention that to some who say, why should we mention God in the U.S. Constitution? Why have all 50 States seen fit to mention Him in theirs? For example, the State constitution in Alaska states that its citizens are, 'grateful to God and to those who founded our Nation in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty.'”