**Media Advisory**

Members of Congress Defend National Day of Prayer

Members Respond to Federal Judge Ruling National Day of Prayer Unconstitutional

Washington, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA), Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Ambassador Tony Hall (D-OH), along with Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus and faith leaders will hold a bipartisan press conference on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 responding to a federal judge’s ruling last week that a federal law designating a National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb issued the decision in a case filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group that challenged the constitutionality of a 1988 federal law. The law requires the president to designate the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer. Members of Congress, along with leaders of faith organizations, will join together in responding to the federal judge’s decision last week, to discuss the history of the National Day of Prayer and affirm the right of Americans to pray according to their faith.

Since 1952, U.S. presidents have issued a proclamation designating a National Day of Prayer. For more information on the bipartisan Congressional Prayer Caucus, visit forbes.house.gov/prayercaucus/.