Statement of Senator Dianne Feinstein on the
9^th Circuit Court Ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance
June 26, 2002

"I find the 9^th Circuit Court's opinion embarrassing at best, and I hope that this decision is promptly overturned by the United States Supreme Court.

This nation from its foundation has had a belief in God, and has a long tradition of expressing that belief.

The Congress on April 22, 1864 first placed 'In God We Trust' on a coin, and it has been on various coins of United States issue for a century and a half. The words "Under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, and I have never heard a single comment from anyone in a half century objecting to that.

I see no reason to reverse what has been over a century of American tradition, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of S. Res. 292, 'The Pledge of the Allegiance Resolution.'"

###