CELEBRATING FLAG DAY

On 2026-06-09, Representative Steve Womack (R-AR-3) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING FLAG DAY" in the House.

CELEBRATING FLAG DAY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Page H3996] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING FLAG DAY (Mr. Womack of Arkansas was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. WOMACK. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, June 14, our Nation will celebrate Flag Day. It was on that date in 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress, that our Nation adopted Old Glory as the flag of the United States. It was, and is, the single-most recognizable symbol of the great American experiment and has endured through our Nation's greatest triumphs and its greatest hardships. From the Revolutionary War to the World Wars, from the age of space exploration to the fight for civil rights, the Stars and Stripes has stood as a symbol of American courage and resolve. It is worn by those who serve their country in uniform, and it has been draped over the coffins of those who sacrificed their lives for what it represents. Yet, Congress, the constitutional body charged with making our Nation's laws, does not have the legal authority to decide how our most sacred symbol, the flag, should be protected. We have seen folks burn and desecrate the flag, an act that shows deep contempt for those who know and understand what this flag symbolizes. But Congress can take the first step to restore its authority and the American people's First Amendment right to demand its protection. That is why I have proposed a constitutional amendment returning to Congress that power to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag. This issue was once debated, legislated, and settled through the democratic process, but it has been untouchable for nearly four decades following a decision by the Supreme Court. That decision overturned laws in 48 out of 50 States that protected our flag from desecration. If the American people remain united in their commitment to protect our Nation's flag, Congress should do its part. Mr. Speaker, this is a historic year. It is our Nation's 250th anniversary. I can't think of a better year for Congress to step up in the spirit of self-governance and make an effort to give our flag the protection it deserves. On this Flag Day, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reflect on what the Stars and Stripes means to them and to join me in restoring Congress' constitutional authority to protect it in accordance with the will of the American people. ____________________