House Roll Call 786

98th Congress · 1984-07-26

H.R. 11: TO AMEND THE HUNTER SUBSTITUTE FOR THE COATS AMENDMENT TO H.R. 11. THE COATS AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT NEITHER THE UNITED STATES NOR ANY STATE OR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY SHALL ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE FORM OR CONTENT OF ANY PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE HUNTER SUBSTITUTE PROVIDES THAT NO FUNDS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE UNDER ANY APPLICABLE PROGRAM TO ANY STATE OR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY WHICH HAS A POLICY OF DENYING OR WHICH EFFECTIVELY PREVENTS PARTICIPATION IN PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY INDIVIDUALS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, EXCEPT THAT SUCH AGENCIES MAY LIMIT SPOKEN PRAYER DURING INSTRUCTIONAL PERIODS OR AT ANY OTHER TIME WHEN VOCAL SPEECH IS LIMITED. THE HUNTER AMENDMENT ALSO PROVIDES THAT NEITHER THE UNITED STATES NOR ANY STATE OR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY SHALL REQUIRE A PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN PRAYER OR INFLUENCE THE FORM OR CONTENT OF ANY PRAYER IN SUCH PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GUNDERSON AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT NO STATE OR LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY SHALL DENY INDIVIDUALS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN MOMENTS OF SILENT PRAYER. (MOTION PASSED)