The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, now run by Democrats under the leadership of Ranking Member Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, will strike the words “So help me God” from the default oath it gives to witnesses who appear before it.

The current oath reads like this:

“Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony that you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

The proposed revision, according to FOX News, would strike the last four words and add “under penalty of law” after the word “affirm”:

Naturally, making the phrase optional — as it is with the presidential oath of office — is blasphemy for Republicans who think saying the word “God” matters far more than passing legislation that’s in line with anything Jesus ever said.

“It is incredible, but not surprising, that the Democrats would try to remove God from committee proceedings in one of their first acts in the majority,” House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., told Fox News. “They really have become the party of Karl Marx.”

Please. We don’t need lessons on morality and decency from anyone named Cheney.

Anyone can say the phrase if they want. It just won’t be required. After all, if you need the threat of God in order to compel you to tell the truth, you’re already in trouble. I’d much rather politicians remind witnesses of the weight of the law, not a fictional deity who won’t do a damn thing if they lie under oath.

The full House committee will vote on the proposed changes later this week. Incidentally, Rep. Jared Huffman, the only openly non-religious member of Congress, sits on the committee. It’s unclear if his input had anything to do with the proposed change.

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