Flag Burning

Floor Speech

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, yesterday folks across America gathered together to celebrate our national flag. For 233 years now, the Stars and Stripes have been a unique symbol of freedom and democracy across the globe, the representation of all we are and all that we stand for. Millions of young men and women fought and died for their country under that flag, and every day our servicemembers risk their lives in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world to protect the ideals it represents.

To burn or desecrate it is an insult to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe and to those who helped build our great Nation. It should be illegal, and this Congress should make it illegal by finally passing a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of a U.S. flag. Every day this House begins its work by pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. We need to live up to that pledge.

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