“This sends a clear message to all these government departments and agencies that it’s all right to put up the motto on our buildings and in our classrooms. And I think it will stop the tide of the chilling effect over the past several years. We’re not forcing anybody to do anything. But at the same time, we want to stand there to protect people who want to say God in a public building. And we don’t want some government agency telling them that they can’t put the national motto in their buildings or classrooms.” – Tea Party-backed GOP Rep. Randy Forbes (VA), on his bill to force the placement of “In God We Trust” on all public buildings.
Forbes’ bill was approved last week by the House Judiciary Committee. According to a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, he “supports the intent” of the bill and expects a vote by the full House within several weeks. “In God We Trust” was adopted as the official national motto in 1956 by a unanimous vote of both chambers of Congress.