[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 120 (Friday, September 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5699-H5700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TERRORIST VICTIMS FLAG MEMORIAL RESOLUTION OF 2001
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on
House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the
resolution (H.Res. 239), providing Capitol-flown flags to each
surviving victim, and the family of each deceased victim, of the
terrorist attacks which occurred on September 11, 2001, and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for an explanation of the resolution.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is here on behalf of the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the ranking member of the Committee on House
Administration, and myself.
This resolution would authorize funds for the provisions of flags
that have been flown over the great Capitol to the surviving victims
and the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic events of
September 11, 2001.
Pursuant to this resolution, those who were injured or lost a loved
one in these hideous attacks would be entitled to receive, at no cost,
the United States flag. I believe all Members will agree that
provisions of the flag, what we believe in the flag as a symbol of our
country and to give that is the least we can do to show our support for
those tragically affected by these barbaric acts.
{time} 0150
Mr. Speaker, as we stand here tonight, behind you is our flag, which
is the greatest symbol of our country. And as we have the energetic
give and take of public debate on the floor of this Chamber to do our
duty, to represent freedom, to represent our constituents and our very
American way of life, we recognize, I know, that we could not be here
to have our debates and our agreements and our disagreements if it were
not for the veterans of our country, who from the beginning of our
revolution up through today, as our military stands ready always, as
our troops are overseas in situations that put them in harm's way, and
we always know through all of this that the colors do not run on that
flag and neither have our veterans.
I mention the veterans because they are so important to us. Mr.
Speaker, I believe also we should mention that we realize that
somewhere in this tragic amount of individuals who have lost their
lives, there are veterans; but we also recognize in fact that there are
nonveterans that have also in fact lost their lives. And it is fitting
that those targeted, whether veterans or nonveterans, should receive in
tribute the symbol of our great Nation, the American flag, that has
been flown across the United States Capitol, the structure that houses
our great institutions of democracy.
Tragically, the victims of this savage attack are numerous. Though
there are many victims, each should be honored. Every single one of
them. This resolution will permit Members to show that they, this
Congress, and our country mourn the loss deeply of our fellow citizens
and we are in solidarity with those that have had the ultimate price
[[Page H5700]]
of their lives taken away from them and we are in deepest sympathy with
their families.
It has long be been the law of this Nation and of our land that when
a veteran dies their family receives a flag. All those who died and
were injured on September 11, 2001, again may have not been in our
armed services, but they all assuredly were casualties of war, and they
should be recognized as such. I hope all Members will join me in
passing this resolution.
Mr. BAIRD. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the
distinguished gentleman from Ohio and the gentleman from Maryland for
introducing this legislation. And, parenthetically, I would like to
thank them both for their support of recent efforts to counsel the
staff and other Members of this body to help them deal with the events
surrounding the tragedy of Tuesday.
Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, two great symbols of the United States were
attacked along with thousands of our countrymen. When the symbols of
the World Trade Center fell, that collapse took with it the lives of
thousands of innocent men, women, young children, and senior citizens.
We have grieved since that time; and in our grief other symbols have
risen up to demonstrate our solidarity with the victims, and those
symbols are those familiar stars and stripes of the American flag. As
those symbols have risen, they have lifted the human spirits of our
population.
It is one of the tragedies of events like this that the fire and the
degree of destruction will tragically not leave remains even for the
loved ones who are left behind. They will be left with memories. They
will be left with horrifying images, with photographs; but they will
not have even the bodies, in many cases, of their loved ones to
cherish. But this body today has an opportunity to give at least
something to the survivors and the families, and that something is
something very precious. It is an American flag. It is a flag that will
have been flown over this Capitol, a Capitol that stands for the entire
world as a symbol itself, a symbol of freedom.
As we look up each day in the weeks to come and we see the flags
symbolizing that freedom over this building, we can know, and the
families of the victims can know, that those flags stand for them, they
stand for future generations, and they stand for the best this country
has to offer.
With this resolution, the Congress is authorizing the giving of those
flags to the survivors' families from this terrible accident; and it is
our hope, however small the gesture may seem, that in some small way
those flags can lift the spirits of the families as they have lifted
the spirits of the Nation for many years past and for years to come.
I commend the authors of this legislation. I encourage all Americans
to fly their own flags over their homes and businesses, and I hope that
in some small way this bill and the flags that will be given to the
families will help carry them through this difficult time, just as the
flags have helped carry our Nation through many past challenges and
crises.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BAIRD. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the
gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to point out, and I would be
remiss if I did not do this, that though we have authored this
resolution, myself and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), I want
to note that this tremendous idea, this tremendous gesture, this move
by this Congress to help communicate with these families that we do
care that they paid the ultimate price, was the idea of the gentleman
from Washington. He brought it to us. And I just wanted to commend the
gentleman for bringing this idea. Although we have authored it, we
really appreciate the thoughtfulness of the gentleman in proposing
this.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 239
Resolved,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ``Terrorist Victims
Flag Memorial Resolution of 2001''.
SEC. 2. CAPITOL-FLOWN FLAGS FOR VICTIMS OF THE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, TERRORIST ATTACKS.
(a) Authority.--
(1) In general.--At the request of a surviving victim, or
the family of a deceased victim, of the terrorist attacks
which occurred on September 11, 2001, the Representative of
such victim or family may provide the victim or family with a
Capitol-flown flag, not to exceed one flag per victim or
family, together with the certificate described in paragraph
(4).
(2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the
date on which the Committee on House Administration approves
the regulations issued by the Clerk of the House of
Representatives under subsection (b).
(3) Cost.--Flags shall be provided at no cost to the
victims or their families. Such funds as may be necessary for
the administration of this program, including the purchase
and delivery of flags provided pursuant to this resolution,
are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the applicable
accounts of the House of Representatives.
(4) Certificate described.--The certificate described in
this paragraph is a certificate which is signed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
Representatives providing the flag, and which reads as
follows: ``This flag has been flown over the United States
Capitol, in memory of those who perished, and to honor those
who were injured, as a result of the terrorist attacks which
occurred on September 11, 2001. It is presented to the
surviving victims, and the families of those who lost their
lives, with profound sorrow on behalf of the United States
House of Representatives.''.
(b) Regulations and Procedures.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
adoption of this resolution, the Clerk shall issue
regulations for carrying out this resolution, including
regulations to establish procedures (including any
appropriate forms, guidelines, and accompanying certificates)
for requesting a Capitol-flown flag.
(2) Approval by committee on house administration.--The
regulations issued by the Clerk under paragraph (1) shall
take effect upon approval by the Committee on House
Administration.
(c) Applicability.--This resolution shall only apply to
victims of the terrorist attacks which occurred in the United
States on September 11, 2001.
(d) Definitions.--In this resolution--
(1) the term ``Capitol-flown flag'' means a United States
flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of the
deceased or surviving victim for whom such flag is requested;
(2) the term ``Representative'' includes a Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to the Congress; and
(3) the term ``victim'' means a person who lost his or her
life in, or due to, the attacks of September 11, 2001, or who
sustained physical injury due to the attacks, but does not
include the aircraft hijackers and any other person
determined to have taken part in those attacks.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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