[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6432-H6433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING FLAGS ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1182) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that American flags flown on Federal Government 
buildings and on Federal property be made in the United States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1182

       Whereas, on June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes was 
     officially adopted as the national flag of the United States;
       Whereas Francis Scott Key was so inspired by the sight of 
     the American flag still flying over Baltimore's Fort McHenry 
     after a British bombardment that he wrote the ``Star-Spangled 
     Banner'' on September 14, 1814;
       Whereas the American flag has 7 red and 6 white horizontal 
     stripes;
       Whereas these stripes represent the 13 original States;
       Whereas the flag still has its field of blue, which 
     represents the Union and contains 50 stars, one for each 
     State;
       Whereas many brave men and women have fought and died for 
     the freedoms that this flag represents; and
       Whereas the sight of this banner brings feelings of joy, 
     courage, pride, and unity for all Americans: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the United States House 
     of Representatives that all American flags flown over Federal 
     buildings be entirely produced in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) and the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Gohmert) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHIFF. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution, introduced by Bob Filner of California, 
chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, is both appropriate and 
timely. It expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that 
American flags flown on Federal Government buildings and on Federal 
property should be made in the United States.
  As with many basic products sold in the U.S. today, it can be 
difficult to find a flag that is made in America. But the American flag 
is not just any product. It is our national symbol, and especially when 
it flies over Federal Government property, it ought to be made in 
America by Americans.
  I am proud that the Architect of the Capitol flies only American-made 
flags. When one of our constituents or a community organization 
receives a flag flown over the Capitol, they can be sure it was made in 
the U.S.A.
  When we see the American flag, it should remind us of American 
workers whose jobs are sometimes now being shipped overseas to 
countries with lower labor and worker safety protections. The American 
flag represents the values of our Nation, values that cannot be 
reconciled with the conditions in many overseas factories.
  There is a lot we need to do to ensure that America retains the jobs 
that drive our economy. But as one step, if only a small symbolic step, 
let us assure the American people that we will not fly imported 
American flags over Federal property. The flags we fly will be made by 
American workers in American factories. They will never be made in 
foreign sweatshops or by children.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. And I want to 
commend the gentleman from California for introducing it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I thank the gentleman from California, and I do rise in support of 
House Resolution 1182, a sense of Congress that U.S. flags flown over 
Federal buildings should be made in the good old U.S.A.
  The flag represents our unity and strength to the rest of the world, 
and it is only fitting that U.S. flags flown over Federal buildings be 
a product of our own country's labor and resources. Americans produce 
the best in the world when they put their minds to it, and it is 
entirely appropriate that the flag staffs on our Federal buildings be 
reserved for the best in the world, made right here in America.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Speaker and 
Chairman Conyers for bringing H. Res. 1182 to the floor today. This 
important resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that all 
American flags flown over Federal Government buildings and on

[[Page H6433]]

Federal property should be made in the United States.
  The U.S. Census bureau estimates that $5.3 million worth of American 
flags were imported from other countries in 2006, mostly from China. 
Even though U.S. law requires every flag be labeled with its ``country 
of origin,'' the figure of foreign-made American flags has steadily 
grown over the past few years. This is an absolute shame! I am glad 
that the office of the Architect of the Capitol has reassured me that 
flags that we fly everyday over this very Capitol are proudly made in 
the United States.
  As we celebrated Independence Day last week, we were reminded that 
the American flag is much more than our national symbol. It embodies 
our courage, liberty, and justice. The flag reminds us each and every 
day of the blood that was shed so that we may enjoy our freedoms. So as 
we proudly fly the Stars and Stripes, we must ensure that they are 
homespun in the United States. I urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 
1182.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 1182 introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, 
Representative Filner. This important legislation seeks to express the 
sense of the House of Representatives that American flags flown on 
Federal Government buildings and on Federal property be made in the 
United States.
  On June 14, 1777, the Stars and Stripes were officially adopted as 
the national flag of the United States. Francis Scott Key was so 
inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over 
Baltimore's Fort McHenry after a British bombardment that he wrote the 
``Star-Spangled Banner'' on September 14, 1814. The American flag has 7 
red and 6 white horizontal stripes; these stripes represent the 13 
original States.
  The flag still has its field of blue, which represents the Union and 
contains 50 stars, one for each State. Many brave men and women have 
fought and died for the freedom that this flag represents. The sight of 
this banner brings feelings of joy, courage, pride, and unity for all 
Americans. Therefore, it should be the sense of the United States House 
of Representatives that all American flags flown over Federal buildings 
be entirely produced in the United States.
  For more than 200 years, the American flag has been the symbol of our 
Nation's strength and unity. It's been a source of pride and 
inspiration for millions of citizens. And the American Flag has been a 
prominent icon in our national history. On June 14, 1777, in order to 
establish an official flag for the new Nation, the Continental Congress 
passed the first Flag Act, ``resolved that the flag of the United 
States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the 
Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new 
Constellation.''
  Between 1777 and 1960, Congress passed several acts that changed the 
shape, design and arrangement of the flag and allowed for additional 
stars and stripes to be added to reflect the admission of each new 
state. Executive Order of President Eisenhower dated January 3, 1959--
provided for the arrangement of the stars in seven rows of seven stars 
each, staggered horizontally and vertically. Executive Order of 
President Eisenhower dated August 21, 1959--provided for the 
arrangement of the stars in nine rows of stars staggered horizontally 
and eleven rows of stars staggered vertically which made official the 
design of the flag that we know today.
  Therefore, we should not reserve the right to make our Nation's flag 
at home, where blood was shed by brave men who had a vision for a free 
country rooted in democracy and justice. Although we may outsource many 
things, I support that we preserve the integrity of the symbol that 
serves as the very essence of our national anthem. This anthem serves 
to remind us of the United States flag, also known as the Star-Spangled 
Banner, which waves over the land of the free and the home of the 
brave. When we rise to pledge allegiance to our country, we place our 
hand over our beating heart; then we sing the delicate notes of the 
Star-Spangled Banner, but most of all we fix our gaze upon our Nation's 
flag. This time of reverence serves as a moment of introspection. Not 
until we fully come to grips with ourselves can we apply the wisdom 
that is needed to gather solutions for international issues.
  Our Nation was founded upon the principles of liberty, equality and 
justice, which are reflected by the symbol of our Nation's flag. 
Therefore, I strongly support this powerful resolution that says that 
flags flown on Federal Government buildings and on Federal property be 
made in the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this resolution.
  Mr. GOHMERT. I hope all my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCHIFF. I join my colleague from Texas in urging support of this 
measure, and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1182.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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