La. House Advances Declaration Of Independence Bill To Senate

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Denham Springs lawmaker's bid to require Louisiana public school students to recite the Declaration of Independence daily has gained traction in the state House on its second-try.

Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges previously pulled her bill to require students in fourth through sixth grade to recite a passage from the historic document, but brought it again Thursday. The House voted 70-23 to advance the measure for Senate consideration.

Black lawmakers opposed the measure, wanting to also require recitation of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, saying the addition was necessary to tell the full story of U.S. equality. The House rejected the proposed change.

Hodges also opposed, saying her bill is meant to educate children on one of the nation's founding documents.

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House Bill 1035: www.legis.la.gov

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