59th Celebration of Our National Day of Prayer

Floor Speech

Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, today is the 59th celebration of the National Day of Prayer.

Like most Americans, I believe that the effective and fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, and what is true of individuals is also true of nations.

The truth is that America has always been a Nation of prayer. Pilgrims relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our Founding Fathers prayed during the Continental Congress in 1776. President Lincoln offered his famous proclamation for humility, fasting, and prayer at the height of the Civil War, and President Truman named the National Day of Prayer in 1952.

Sadly, voluntary prayer has been under attack of late. It has been driven from our public schools and from our graduation ceremonies by activist courts. Just last month, a Federal court declared this National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional. That ruling ignored our history, our traditions, and it should be overturned.

During these days of challenge for American families at home and abroad, on this National Day of Prayer, let it be said now more than ever: we are a Nation of prayer.

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