H.Res. 773

[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.

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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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