SUPPORT LB36, In God We Trust Plaques in Public Schools
Please provide support testimony so this legislation will be voted out of the Education Committee for floor debate! Your options:
1. Best: Travel to Lincoln to testify in person in Capitol Conference Room 1525 at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2nd. Bring 13 copies of your written testimony – 12 to hand to the committee clerk and one for you to read. Practice so your presentation is less than 3 minutes in length [Directions for parking: Take Exit #401 south off I-80 and drive past Memorial Stadium and the City County Building. Turn left (east) on G Street. When south of the capitol, park in the residential area. Walk into the Capitol at the south door. Walk straight to Information Desk & ask for room 1525.
2. Second Best: Email written testimony with your own experience
3. Third Best: CC your Email support letter to each committee member when you send your email to edupl@leg.ne.gov
Please select 1 or 2 of the talking points as the base of your written testimony and end with your own experience, perspective, or story. One-half page letters are the most effective.
SUBMITTAL DEADLINE for Email Testimony is 12 noon CST, Monday, 3-1-21 at: edupl@leg.ne.gov
A. Send an email to the Education Committee — edupl@leg.ne.gov no later than Monday, 3-1-21, at 12 noon CST.
B. “Your letter must identify the bill or resolution number, include your name and address, state your position for, against, or neutral on the bill (or resolution) in question and include a request for the letter to be included as part of the official hearing record. End your letter with a request for the committee members to vote LB36 out of the Education Committee for floor debate.”
C. Though not necessary, you can also CC your same letter to all of the committee members when you send your email to edupl@leg.ne.gov Here is their contact info:
TALKING POINTS SUPPORTING LB36
1. Our Founding Fathers and mothers who immigrated from Europe came to escape religious tyranny. The vast majority of them were Christians and built their Christians beliefs and principles into our Bill of Rights and U.S. Constitution.
2. On July 30, 1956, President Eisenhower signed into law “In God We Trust” as our national motto.
3. In 2006, our U.S. Senate reaffirmed “In God We Trust” as our national motto on the 50th anniversary of its adoption.
4. In 2011, our U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly 396-6 to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as our official motto and encouraged its public display in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.
5. No court anywhere in the United States has ever held that the public posting of “In God We Trust” violates the Constitution. Courts across the country repeatedly affirm the constitutionality of our national motto, and resolutely reject the notion that it promotes the establishment of religion.
6. In 1963, the SCOTUS decision in the Murray v Curlett case disallowed prayer and removed Bible reading in the public school system. In the 58 years since that decision, the behavior standards and moral standards for students in the public-school systems around the USA have declined significantly (i.e. large number of unwed mothers in each class, the falling percentage of students graduating each year, etc.)
Based on all the facts listed above, I urge all Senators on this Education Committee to vote LB36 out of committee and onto the floor for vigorous floor debate.
If you have any questions about the Talking Points, please call me directly at 402-490-8612. Thank you, Mark Bonkiewicz, NFFV Board Member
