A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Supporting the right to pray in public schools.

WHEREAS, the founding of this country is rooted in the belief that all men and women are endowed with the right to follow their conscience, to worship freely, and to live in accordance with their convictions; and

WHEREAS, religious freedom is this country's first freedom and has, throughout history, been a driving force behind many of the most defining moments of our identity as a country; and

WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution clearly articulates the intention of our founders to prevent governmental interference in the practice of religion; and

WHEREAS, in May 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to advance religious liberty for individuals and institutions; and

WHEREAS, our ability to worship freely and openly and to live within our faith should never be infringed; and

WHEREAS, repressive governments around the world persecute Christians and other religious worshipers, and terrorist organizations carry out barbaric violence against innocent victims because of their religion; and

WHEREAS, this country seeks to dispel religious persecution and discrimination around the world and to ensure respect for the freedom of religion and religious beliefs; and

WHEREAS, our founding fathers entrusted the people with the solemn responsibility of protecting religious liberty so that we, as a people and as a nation, may always stand as a guiding beacon for the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Ninety-Fifth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the Legislature supports the United States Department of Education’s guidance entitled "Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools," dated January 16, 2020; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the secretary of the Senate clerk of the House of Representatives provide copies of this resolution to the speaker and clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to the president pro tempore and the secretary of the United States Senate, and to the members of the South Dakota congressional delegation.