Rep. Kirkpatrick Joins Effort to Outlaw Flag Burning, Supports Constitutional Amendment to Allow Ban

Press Release

Rep. Kirkpatrick Joins Effort to Outlaw Flag Burning, Supports Constitutional Amendment to Allow Ban

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has announced that she will support an effort in the House to ban flag burning, continuing her "Defending Arizona Values" campaign. She has signed on as a co-sponsor to House Joint Resolution 47, a constitutional amendment that will give Congress the ability to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag introduced by Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

As the daughter and niece of soldiers, the Congresswoman feels we must show the flag that our young men and women bravely fought for and under the respect it deserves. Her announcement came yesterday in a speech on the House floor, shortly after she led Members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Every day, our service members risk their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe to protect the ideals our flag represents," said Rep. Kirkpatrick. "To burn or desecrate it, even in political protest, is an affront to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and the many others who have served."

Rep. Kirkpatrick is one of just 16 Democrats to support the bill. She sees this as an issue that should go beyond party, touching on the unique character of our communities and our Nation. The Congresswoman launched her "Defending Arizona Values" campaign to help stand up for the things that folks in Greater Arizona believe in and hold sacred, including honoring this vital part of our history and our culture.

"For 232 years, the Stars and Stripes has been a unique symbol of freedom and democracy across the world. It is the embodiment of all we are and all we stand for as a Nation," said Rep. Kirkpatrick. "It means something to folks in my district, no matter where we stand politically. Congress needs to understand that and stop blocking this amendment."

Through the "Defending Arizona Values" campaign, the Congresswoman is fighting against big government and for accountability, efficiency and responsiveness in Washington. As part of that push, on July 14 Rep. Kirkpatrick announced her support for H.R. 1207, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act. The bill will help increase oversight and transparency by calling for a full audit of the Federal Reserve to be completed by the end of 2010. Two days later, she came out against S. 787, a bill that would greatly expand federal water regulation and allow Washington to limit property use by Greater Arizonans.

Last week, the Congresswoman reaffirmed her support for critical protections of our Second Amendment rights. These included the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act to make sure that the rights of law-abiding citizens are respected across the country and the Veterans' Heritage Firearms Act to allow those who defended our Nation to keep the weapons they found overseas as souvenirs of their service. She also endorsed the Local Radio Freedom Act to fight a tax hike that would heavily burden small-town radio stations.

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