Ted Poe: “this House has much tradition and history. We start each day every day with a prayer to the Almighty, the Pledge, and…”

“this House has much tradition and history. We start each day every day with a prayer to the Almighty, the Pledge, and the flag is displayed in the center of this House. Above that flag, appropriately so, is the phrase, ``In God We Trust.'' Fifty years ago this month, President Eisenhower signed legislation declaring this to be our national motto. Our great leaders believed in this self-evident truth. Benjamin Franklin said at the Constitutional Convention, ``The longer I live, the more convinced I see this truth, God governs the affairs of men, and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?'' President George Washington, in his first inaugural address said: ``It would be improper to omit in this first official act, my fervent supplications to the Almighty Being who rules this universe, who presides in the councils of nations.'' And finally, Thomas Jefferson said, ``Our liberties are the gift of God.'' Mr. Speaker, we must and shall preserve, believe and uphold America's motto, ``In God We Trust.'' And that's just the way it is. ____________________”