When the Vice President of the United States swore me in as United States Senator in January, 2003, and again in January, 2009, I stood with all other senators who had been elected the previous year, carried in my left hand the family Bible, raised my right hand and swore this oath that is required by the Constitution of the United States and prescribed by federal law:

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

Over the years I sometimes have been asked to “take a pledge” on some issue, and occasionally I have done so. But before I ran for reelection to the Senate in 2008, I thought more about this and decided that the only appropriate pledge for United States senators is that pledge I take when I am sworn into office – to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Since 2008, I have not taken nor been bound by any pledge other than my constitutional oath.

I always am happy to answer your questions and to let you know where I stand on issues that are important to you. You will find many of those answers on this website. If you would like more information about my views, please click HERE.