{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=eb434a5d-bbfa-481f-a4fc-a3b1f6f8bb30", "Portman Effort To Commemorate FDR's D-Day Prayer with the Nation at the WWII Memorial Passes Energy Committee", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Rob Portman", "P000449", "www.portman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2013 (S.1044), bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by voice vote.\u00a0 Portman\u2019s legislation would direct the Interior Secretary to install a plaque or inscription at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the nation on June 6, 1944.\u00a0\r\n\u201cOn D-Day, courageous Americans risked and sacrificed their lives to preserve our freedoms and end tyranny abroad,\u201d said Portman. \u201cOn that day, President Roosevelt asked our nation to come together to pray for the men overseas. His words brought strength and comfort to many during one of the most challenging times for our nation.\r\n\u201cAt no cost to the taxpayer, this memorial ensures that FDR\u2019s prayer will become a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of not just those who fought in World War II, but also of the men and women who fight for us today and all those who lay down their lives for the cause of liberty. I am pleased that my bill passed out of committee and that we are one step closer to ensuring that this important, extraordinary prayer and this example of the power of faith in our Nation's history be added to the World War II Memorial.\u201d\r\n\u201cWe would like to commend Senator Portman, Senator Landrieu, and members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for today's referral of S.1044 to the full Senate,\u201d said Ohio Christian Alliance President Chris Long.\u00a0 \u201cPresident Roosevelt\u2019s prayer articulated the great crusade that was underway to liberate millions suffering under tyranny.\u00a0 He honored the war effort and paid tribute to the fallen and those veterans who fought courageously in the conflict.\u00a0 It is only fitting that succeeding generations learn of this prayer that was offered at that most poignant moment in our nation\u2019s history.\u00a0 We are encouraged by the support that this legislation is receiving and we urge the U.S. Senate to pass it quickly.\"\r\nThe World War II Memorial Prayer Act would require placement of the prayer to be subject to a Commemorative Works approval and review process.\u00a0 Portman originally introduced the bill last Congress with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and a companion bill, led by Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson, passed the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly during the 112th by a vote of 386-26.\u00a0\r\nThe World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2013 has been endorsed by the Christian Coalition of America, and they submitted testimony in support of the bill at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee mark-up earlier this year.\r\nPresident Roosevelt\u2019s prayer was read to the nation by radio address on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France\u2019s Normandy region.\r\nThe following is the text:\r\nMy Fellow Americans:\r\nLast night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.\r\nAnd so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:\r\nAlmighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.\r\nLead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.\r\nThey will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.\r\nThey will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.\r\nFor these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.\r\nSome will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.\r\nAnd for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.\r\nMany people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.\r\nGive us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.\r\nAnd let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.\r\nAnd, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.\r\nWith Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.\r\nThy will be done, Almighty God.\r\nAmen.\r\nPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944", 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://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=eb434a5d-bbfa-481f-a4fc-a3b1f6f8bb30"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3401429168879986, "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"}