11/4/11: House Re-affirms “In God We Trust” as National Motto

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The US House this week passed a non-binding resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the national motto.

The measure sponsored by Representative Randy Forbes of Virginia, supports and encourages the motto’s display in all public schools and government buildings.

Forbes said the resolution was needed because President Obama had once called “E pluribus unum” the national motto, and the Latin phrase meaning “from many one” was engraved in the new Capitol Visitors Center until Congress ordered that it be corrected.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler called the resolution a meaningless distraction from the nation’s real problems, claiming “Nobody is threatening the national motto.”

“In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins during the Civil War in 1864.