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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	October 5, 2015 12:10 PM
From:	Representative Cris Dush
To:	All House members
Subject:	Ability to Display “In God We Trust” in Schools

In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation, formally HB 1728 allowing public schools in the Commonwealth to display our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust,” if they wish to do so. The motto "In God We Trust" is part of the history and heritage of the United States. On April 22, 2014, we celebrated the 150th Anniversary of our national motto “In God We Trust” on our coins. While this phrase was first introduced to the nation by Francis Scott Key in 1814 in the words of our national anthem, it was a Pennsylvanian, James Pollock, the 13th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who was responsible for suggesting the installation of these words on our coins during his term as Director of the United States Mint. In April of 1864, Congress first approved the use of the motto on United States two-cent pieces, and since then, the motto has been inscribed on most denominations of coins in an uninterrupted period of time extending from the present back to 1916. In 1956, the United States Congress adopted the motto "In God We Trust" as the national motto. Since 1957, the United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing has gradually incorporated the motto in the design on the reverse of all paper currency. With this rich history in mind, my legislation will allow school districts to display the motto in each school building. The display of our nation’s motto may take the form of mounted plaques or artwork from a student contest that will be prominently displayed in each school building. Thank you for your consideration. CD/mb/cmc

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