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H.R. 2028 108th Congress House

Pledge Protection Act of 2004

Official title: To amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance.

Introduced: June 17, 2003 See on congress.gov
Law AllegianceAppellate courtsChurch and stateCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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CommemorationsConstitutional lawDistrict courtsEducationElementary and secondary educationFlagsGovernment Operations and PoliticsJudicial reviewJurisdictionOathsReligionReligion in the public schoolsReligious libertySupreme Court
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 26 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 27, 2004
Received in the Senate.
Sep 23, 2004
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Sep 23, 2004
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 23, 2004
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 173 (Roll no. 467).
Sep 23, 2004
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Sep 23, 2004
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2028.
Sep 23, 2004
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of the Watt amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Sep 23, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 781, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment.
Sep 23, 2004
POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Watt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Watt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.
Sep 23, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 781, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Watt amendment.
Sep 23, 2004
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 781, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sensenbrenner amendment.
Sep 23, 2004
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2028.
Sep 23, 2004
The Speaker designated the Honorable Mike Pence to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Sep 23, 2004
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 781 and Rule XVIII.
Sep 23, 2004
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2028 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Sep 23, 2004
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 781. (consideration: CR H7451-7478; text of measure as reported in House: CR H7470)
Sep 22, 2004
Rule H. Res. 781 passed House.
Sep 21, 2004
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 781 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2028 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Sep 21, 2004
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 424.
Sep 21, 2004
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-691.
Sep 15, 2004
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 10.
Sep 15, 2004
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 10, 2004
Subcommittee on the Constitution Discharged.
Jun 25, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
May 8, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 8, 2003
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 23, 2004 House · vote #467 On Passage Passed 247–173 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 3

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 2 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 776 – An amendment numbered three printed in House Report 108-693 to insert the following after "recitation" in sec… Failed Sep 23, 2004
HAMDT 775 – An amendment numbered two printed in House Report 108-693 to strike the following in section 1632 of title 28… Failed Sep 23, 2004
HAMDT 774 – An amendment numbered one printed in House Report 108-693 to insert the following in section 1632 of title 28… Agreed to Sep 23, 2004
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 Latest action September 27, 2004

Received in the Senate.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Pledge Protection Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal judicial code to deny jurisdiction to any court established by Act of Congress to hear or determine any claim that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance violates the first amendment of the Constitution.
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HRES 781 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2028) to amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdic…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 55
All 55 Democratic 1 Republican 19
TURNER, JIM
· Sep 4, 2003
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Jun 17, 2003
NETHERCUTT, GEORGE
· Jun 11, 2003
RADANOVICH, GEORGE
· Jun 9, 2003
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Jun 9, 2003
BALLENGER, CASS
· Jun 2, 2003
GOSS, PORTER
· Jun 2, 2003
LINDER, JOHN
· Jun 2, 2003
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · May 21, 2003
FLETCHER, ERNEST
· May 21, 2003
QUINN, JACK
· May 21, 2003
Vitter, David
· May 21, 2003
Isakson, Johnny
· May 19, 2003
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 15, 2003
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · May 14, 2003
THORNBERRY, WILLIAM
· May 14, 2003
 R
Turner, Michael R.
Ohio · May 14, 2003
TAYLOR, GENE
· May 13, 2003
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · May 8, 2003
BARTON, JOE
· May 8, 2003
BEREUTER, DOUGLAS
· May 8, 2003
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · May 8, 2003
BOEHNER, JOHN
· May 8, 2003
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · May 8, 2003
Bordallo, Madeleine
· May 8, 2003
Burns, Max
· May 8, 2003
Burr, Richard
· May 8, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · May 8, 2003
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · May 8, 2003
COLLINS, MAC
· May 8, 2003
CRANE, PHILIP
· May 8, 2003
DeMint, James
· May 8, 2003
 R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · May 8, 2003
DIAZ-BALART, LINCOLN
· May 8, 2003
DUNN, JENNIFER
· May 8, 2003
FRELINGHUYSEN, RODNEY
· May 8, 2003
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · May 8, 2003
HOEKSTRA, PETER
· May 8, 2003
HOUGHTON, AMO
· May 8, 2003
 R
Issa, Darrell
California · May 8, 2003
Janklow, William
· May 8, 2003
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · May 8, 2003
MCINNIS, SCOTT
· May 8, 2003
OSE, DOUG
· May 8, 2003
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · May 8, 2003
SCHROCK, EDWARD
· May 8, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · May 8, 2003
SHADEGG, JOHN
· May 8, 2003
 R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · May 8, 2003
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · May 8, 2003
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2028: Pledge Protection Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2028/
MLA
"H.R. 2028: Pledge Protection Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2028/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2028, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2028/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2028: Pledge Protection Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2028/)
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