Early Congressional committee action was sought today by southern Senators who, with the backing of a group of Republicans, introduced three proposed Constitutional Amendments to set aside the Supreme Court decision ban on prayer and Bible reading in public schools.
Senator Strom Thurmond and Senator Olin D. Johnston, both South Carolina Democrats, each introduced such an amendment. The third was introduced by six Republicans. The key element of the three proposals was that no school supported by public funds in whole or in part should be prohibited from holding Bible reading or non-sectarian prayer as long as pupil participation is voluntary.
While such measures were considered certain to run into strong opposition in both Houses, they were expected to get strong support in the Senate Judiciary Committee, headed by another southerner, James O. Eastland, Mississippi Democrat. Hearings are expected either in the full committee or in the constitutional amendments subcommittee which is headed by Sen. Estes Kefauver, Tennessee Democrat. The proposals must first be approved by both Houses and then be ratified by three-fourths of the states to become amendments.
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