Rep. Stahl offered the following concurrent resolution:

House Concurrent Resolution No. 22.

            A concurrent resolution to express to the United States Congress the resolve of the people of Michigan to continue using the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag.

            Whereas, Only a year after the United States Supreme Court rejected a case for lack of standing which pressed for the removal of "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag, another case is working its way through the federal courts. This time, Sacramento federal District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge as it stands violates the right of schoolchildren to be "free from the coercive requirement to affirm God"; and

            Whereas, The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag is a unifying patriotic exercise that has served our nation well for more than half a century. After five decades of schoolchildren reciting "under God" as part of the Pledge of Allegiance, we can look back on an era of unprecedented and ever expanding freedoms of beliefs, practices, speech, and thought. Our diverse nation is strengthened in its unity by teaching each new generation about our liberties and values. We cannot discard this record of success and the sincere beliefs expressed in our Pledge of Allegiance if this narrowly based objection to "under God" manages to succeed before our highest federal court; and

            Whereas, The District Court judge stated that he was bound by precedent from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Given that the appeal to this latest case will go to the same Court of Appeals circuit, it is likely that the United States Supreme Court will once again be faced with an issue that resonates deeply with patriotic citizens who value the Pledge of Allegiance as a teaching tool to foster unity and an appreciation for our freedoms; and

            Whereas, Should the United States Supreme Court fail to uphold the Pledge of Allegiance as we have recited for half a century, we should refuse to be browbeaten into submitting to this dictate of a narrowly focused minority view. Should the federal courts fail to reverse this lower court ruling, it will be up to the United States Congress to address the pledge in order to restore it to its rightful place in our society. Until such action can be taken, it will be up to the states to uphold the Pledge of Allegiance with "under God" in our classrooms; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we express to the United States Congress the resolve of the people of Michigan to continue using the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.