{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063213/http://bridenstine.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bridenstine-fights-to-protect-religious-liberty-at-the-air", "Congressman Bridenstine Fights to Protect Religious Liberty at the Air Force Academy", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Jim Bridenstine", "B001283", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "The phrase \u201cso help me God\u201d was included in the military oath of service in 1776 and is a deeply-rooted American tradition.\u00a0 Now the Air Force Academy has removed the phrase \u201cso help me God\u201d from oaths in the Cadet Handbook.\u00a0\nCongressman Jim Bridenstine spearheaded a letter, signed by 27 other Members of Congress, to the head of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).\u00a0 The letter to USAFA\u2019s Superintendent, Lieutenant General Michelle Johnson, expresses disappointment regarding the academy\u2019s recent decision to remove a poster bearing the oath with the phrase \u201cso help me God\u201d and asks for an explanation of why the Contrails Cadet Handbook omits the phrase from the oaths.\u00a0\nBridenstine said, \u201cThis is yet another example of the Obama Administration abolishing all references to God from the public sphere.\u00a0 As the Supreme Court has ruled, the phrase \u2018so help me God\u2019 does not establish a national religion.\u00a0 It is troubling to see the U.S. Air Force Academy being used as a political tool to institutionalize a culture of Godlessness.\u201d\nGeorge Washington included the phrase \u201cso help me God\u201d at his inauguration as the first President of the United States.\u00a0 Members of our military may choose to include this phrase as a solemnization of their sworn duty to defend and protect our nation, though it is not required for them to serve.\u00a0 Courts consistently have upheld the constitutionality of similar acknowledgements of the Divine, such as \u201cunder God\u201d in the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as of our national motto, \u201cIn God we Trust.\u201d\nThe Cadet\u2019s Oath of Allegiance, as enumerated in the Code of Federal Regulations, ends with \u201cso help me God.\u201d\u00a0 (32 CFR \u00a7\u00a0901.26).\u00a0\u00a0The phrase is included in the oath of office taken by all elected or appointed officials, including Members of Congress.\u00a0 (5 U.S.C. \u00a7\u00a03331)\u00a0\nCongressman Bridenstine continued, \u201cAs a Navy pilot with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, I know firsthand the importance of faith to many of our service members.\u00a0 When the services are hostile to faith, they are hostile to their members.\u00a0 The Military Religious Freedom Coalition continues to identify instances whereby our men and women in uniform are forced to conceal or deny their deeply held religious beliefs.\u201d\n\u00a0\nCONTACT:  \n\tSheryl Kaufman, Communications Director  \n\tPhone: 202-225-2211  \n\tEmail Address: Sheryl.Kaufman@mail.house.gov\n--\u00a0 30\u00a0 --", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063213/http://bridenstine.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-bridenstine-fights-to-protect-religious-liberty-at-the-air"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7751428056508303, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}