A Resilient People Cherishing Liberty And Equality

The Spirit Of Christmas Is - And Hopefully Always Will Be - About Goodwill And Generosity To Others And Peace On Earth.

Madam Speaker, I Have Spent More Than Half My Life As A Member Of The Resources Committee. In That Time I Have Supported Numerous Wilderness Designations. In Fact, I Cannot Recall Ever Opposing A Wilderness Bill.

With That In Mind And In Celebration Of National Prayer Day, Today I Have Proposed In The House Of Representatives A Constitutional Amendment That Would Restore Voluntary Prayer In Our Nation's Schools.

As A People Of Faith, We Know That Prayer Is A Powerful Instrument. And As One Nation Under God, We Know That Many Times Our Most Powerful Tool Is Prayer.

I Believe That The Framers Of The Constitution Made Their Intent Clear When They Wrote The First Amendment. I Believe They Wanted To Keep The New Government From Endorsing One Religion Over Another, Not Erase The Public Consciousness Or Common Faith.