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File #: 8376-14    Version: Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Defeated
File created: 6/27/2014 In control: Committee on Government Reform
On agenda: 7/1/2014 Final action:
Title: A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supporting the display of the National Motto, “In God We Trust” to be displayed above a replication of the Bill of Rights and to be hung in a prominent location in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse.
Sponsors: Sue Means, Chuck Martoni, John Palmiere, Ed Kress, Heather Heidelbaugh, Tom Baker
Attachments: 1. 8376-14 AMEND KRESS 1.docx
A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supporting the display of the National Motto, “In God We Trust” to be displayed, together with other historically significant phrases and the motto of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, above a replication of the Bill of Rights and to be hung in a prominent location in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse.

WHEREAS, April 2014 marked the 150th anniversary of our national motto "In God We Trust" on our coins which was first introduced to the nation by Francis Scott Key in 1814 as words to be included in our national anthem; and

WHEREAS, IN GOD WE TRUST became the United States national motto on July 30, 1956, shortly after our nation led the world through the trauma of World War II; and

WHEREAS, the words have been used on U.S. currency since 1864 having been placed there by a native Pennsylvanian, James Pollock who served as the 13th Governor of Pennsylvania and was appointed as the Director of the U.S. Mint by Abraham Lincoln; and

WHEREAS, the same inspiring slogan is engraved above the entrance to the United States Senate Chamber as well as above the Speaker's dais in the U.S. House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, in both war and peace, these words have been a profound source of strength and guidance to many generations of Americans serving as part of the history and heritage of the United States; and

WHEREAS, On July 24, 2000, the United States House of Representatives, along with the concurrence of the Senate, unanimously resolved to encourage the display of the national
motto of the United States in public buildings throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly enacted House Bill 1728 of 2013 which is known as the National Motto Display Act which attempts to increase understanding of and familiarity with American historical documents and requests that important excerpts of the documents be prominently displayed in public buildings; and


WHEREAS, the nati...

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