Jim Inhofe: “In that there is no one on the floor right now, if it is all right with the chairman and ranking member, I will conclude…”

“In that there is no one on the floor right now, if it is all right with the chairman and ranking member, I will conclude my remarks. Mr. President, I have always enjoyed one-sentence amendments because one can't misinterpret one sentence. I had one the other day that had to do with the appropriations process. I did one in 1994 that ended up being a major, significant reform in the other body. I will read this so people don't misunderstand it: The superintendent of a service academy may have in effect such policy as the superintendent considers appropriate with respect to the offering of a voluntary, nondenominational prayer at an otherwise authorized activity of the academy. . . . Some people asked a question about denominational prayer. Let me share with you--and I think I can read it in this period of time--an entire piece by John Adams. John Adams was the first Vice President of the United States and the second President of the United States. This is what he said on this subject: When the Congress met, Mr. Cushing made a motion that it should be opened with prayer. It was opposed by Mr. Jay of New York and Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina, because we were divided in religious sentiments, some Episcopalians, some Quakers, some Anabaptists, some Congregationalists, so that we could not join in same set of worship. Mr. Samuel Adams rose and said, that he was no bigot, and could hear a prayer of any gentleman of piety and virtue, and at the same time a friend to his country.…”