ACLJ Encouraged by Passage of House Measure to Protect Mt. Soledad Cross in San Diego

July 20, 2006

(Washington, DC) The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) said it is very encouraged that the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a measure with wide bi-partisan support to keep in place the Mt. Soledad cross part of a war memorial for 50 years.  The House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) one of the 22 members of Congress represented by the ACLJ in legal appeals by a vote of 349-to-74 on Wednesday legislation that clears the way for title of the memorial to be transferred to the federal government giving the Department of Defense authority to oversee it.

This legislative victory represents another front in the battle to keep the Mt. Soledad cross in place, said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ, which is involved in the legal battle to save the cross.   Action is underway in several venues to save the cross and were delighted that so many members of the House understood the importance of preserving this war memorial.   While members of the House have acted legislatively, we represent 22 House members including Congressman Hunter in the legal arena.  With the Supreme Court stepping in to put the court-ordered removal of the cross on hold it is clear that there are vital legal issues that must be litigated.  At the end of the day, whether the solution comes legislatively or judicially, we believe the Mt. Soledad cross will remain in place a very visible symbol of our commitment to honoring the men and women who gave their lives for our freedoms.

In its amicus brief filed with the high court, the ACLJ successfully argued that the federal district courts order should be stayed because important constitutional issues have been raised and that federal and state appeals have not been exhausted.

The ACLJ represents 22 members of Congress including numerous military veterans and the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California.  In addition to Hunter, the other members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have signed onto the brief are:  Todd Akin, Gresham Barrett, Eric Cantor, Michael Conaway, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, Phil Gingery, Gil Gutknecht, Jack Kingston, John Kline, Kenny Marchant, Patrick McHenry, Mike McIntyre, Gary Miller, Marilyn Musgrave, Randy Neugebauer, Joseph Pitts, Jim Ryun, Todd Tiahrt, Dave Weldon, and Lynn Westmoreland.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.