[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 773 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 773
Honoring the foundational principle of separation of church and state,
opposing extreme right-wing Christian nationalism, and recognizing the
65th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's address to the Greater
Houston Ministerial Association and 150th anniversary of President
Ulysses S. Grant's speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 30, 2025
Ms. Ansari (for herself, Mr. Huffman, Mr. Raskin, Ms. Balint, Ms.
Bonamici, Mr. Carson, Mr. Doggett, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Ms. Salinas, Mr.
Thanedar, and Ms. Tlaib) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Honoring the foundational principle of separation of church and state,
opposing extreme right-wing Christian nationalism, and recognizing the
65th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's address to the Greater
Houston Ministerial Association and 150th anniversary of President
Ulysses S. Grant's speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee.
Whereas the United States was founded upon the principles of religious freedom
and the protection of individual conscience;
Whereas the Founders of this Nation envisioned a country in which every
individual is free to practice any faith, or no faith at all, without
fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government;
Whereas the concept of separation of church and state, often articulated as ``a
wall of separation'', was deeply important to many of the Founding
Fathers, including James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, who famously used
the phrase in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists emphasizing the
distinct spheres of government and religious belief;
Whereas James Madison, often referred to as the ``Father of the Constitution'',
was a strong advocate for religious liberty and authored the Memorial
and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, arguing against state
support for religious instruction and further solidifying the
intellectual foundations for the separation principle;
Whereas these values are enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution,
which states that ``Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof'';
Whereas 150 years have passed since Ulysses S. Grant's September 29, 1875,
speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee where he emphasized
the Founders' intentions, articulating that religious matters should
``forever be left to the family, church, and private schools, and not
involve government funding or influence'' and underscored the importance
of free thought, free speech, and religious liberty for all citizens;
Whereas the dual protections of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise
Clause have been consistently interpreted by the Supreme Court to
mandate a separation between government and religious institutions,
ensuring that the state does not favor or disfavor any religion, and
that individuals are free to practice their faith, or no faith at all,
without government coercion;
Whereas landmark Supreme Court decisions, including Everson v. Board of
Education (1947), which applied the Establishment Clause to the States,
McCollum v. Board of Education (1948), which prohibited religious
instruction in public schools, and Engel v. Vitale (1962), which
prohibited public school-sponsored prayer, have, based on the history
and intent of the Clauses, consistently affirmed and elaborated upon
these principles; and the Supreme Court continues to rely on its
landmark decisions;
Whereas the strength and vibrancy of the United States lie in its diverse,
multicultural, and religiously pluralistic society, as well as those who
identify as nonreligious or agnostic;
Whereas the rise of extreme right-wing Christian nationalism, which seeks to use
the power of government to impose a narrow religious dogma and orthodoxy
on the American people, poses a significant threat to the principles of
religious diversity, democratic governance, and the constitutional
separation of church and state;
Whereas nearly one-third of the population of the United States identifies as
religious ``nones'' and nearly three-quarters of adults in the United
States say religion should be kept separate from government policies;
Whereas many religious leaders and organizations recognize and advocate for the
importance of the separation of church and state, understanding it to be
a safeguard for religious integrity and freedom from government
interference;
Whereas, on September 12, 1960, then-Senator John F. Kennedy, a Catholic
presidential candidate, delivered a landmark speech to the Greater
Houston Ministerial Association directly addressing concerns about his
faith and its potential impact on his presidency;
Whereas, in his address, Kennedy unequivocally affirmed his belief in an America
``where the separation of church and state is absolute'', stating, ``I
believe in a President whose religious views are his own private affair,
neither imposed by him upon the nation, nor imposed by the nation upon
him as a condition to holding that office'';
Whereas Kennedy's speech reaffirmed that a public servant's primary obligation
should be to the Constitution and the Nation, rather than to any
religion; and
Whereas the 65th anniversary of this historic speech provides an opportune
moment to reflect upon and reaffirm the enduring importance of the
separation of church and state as a cornerstone of American democracy
and religious freedom and particularly to oppose the rise of extreme
right-wing Christian nationalism: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors the Founding Fathers' fundamental principle of
separation of church and state and opposes extreme right-wing
Christian nationalism,
(2) recognizes the 65th anniversary of President John F.
Kennedy's address to the Greater Houston Ministerial
Association and the 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S.
Grant's speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee;
(3) acknowledges the profound significance of President
John F. Kennedy's September 12, 1960, address to the Greater
Houston Ministerial Association as a testament to these
enduring principles;
(4) reaffirms its commitment to protecting the separation
of church and state, and true religious freedom for every
individual, as core American values;
(5) encourages all Americans to reflect upon the historical
and ongoing importance of maintaining a clear distinction
between governmental authority and religious institutions,
ensuring that the rights of all citizens, regardless of their
beliefs, are protected; and
(6) opposes extreme right-wing Christian nationalism and
all forms of religious extremism that seek to undermine the
constitutional principles of religious freedom and the
separation of church and state.
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