Hayworth Supports Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Desecration Of American Flag

Hayworth Supports Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting Desecration Of American Flag

House votes overwhelmingly to begin ratification process

U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona and a strong bipartisan majority in the House have launched an effort to amend the U.S. constitution to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag.

Rep. Hayworth issued this statement following the 286 to 130 vote, which took place June 22 on the floor of the House of Representatives:

"Nineteen years ago, Congress spoke with a clear, bipartisan voice for the American people when it passed the Flag Protection Act of 1989 to prohibit physical desecration of the flag of the United States. One year later, by the margin of one vote on a 5 to 4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down that law and the will of the American people.

"Today, we begin the process of amending the constitution so that we and our fellow Americans can overrule a one-vote majority of Supreme Court justices and declare our commitment to protect from desecration the flag to which we pledge our allegiance and for which so many have sacrificed so much throughout the history of this nation.

"We affirm the belief that our flag serves a unique role as the symbol of the ideals upon which our country was founded and our common commitment to the preservation of those ideals. This most recognized symbol of freedom and democracy in the world deserves to be protected from those who would desecrate it."

http://hayworth.house.gov/cgi-data/news/files/324.shtml