[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN SUPPORT OF SECTION 1096 OF H.R. 4310, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE 
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013, TO DISPLAY TERRITORIAL FLAGS AT 
                         MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 28, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for section 1096 
of H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013. The provision, sponsored by my friend and colleague, Congressman 
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, fixes oversights by the Department of 
Defense. The provision would ensure that flags of the U.S. territories 
and the District of Columbia are required to be displayed alongside the 
flags of the 50 states. Current regulations by the Department of 
Defense are too permissive and many military installations across the 
globe do not include flags from the District of Columbia and the U.S. 
territories.
  Millions of men and women from the District of Columbia and the U.S. 
territories have answered the call to duty in every conflict the United 
States has engaged in over the course of its history. Most recently, 
thousands of men and women have answered the call to support missions 
in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and Iraq. Moreover, National 
Guardsmen from DC and the U.S. territories have supported homeland 
defense missions from protecting the border, to recovery efforts 
following Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. Men and women in 
uniform from DC and the U.S. territories have answered the call to duty 
and it is only right that the symbol of their homes be displayed 
wherever and whenever the Department of Defense displays the flags of 
the 50 states.
  As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on 
Readiness and as a member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I 
will advocate for this provision to be carried in any Conference 
Committee report on the FY13 NDAA. As the Senate begins consideration 
of their version of the FY13 NDAA, I urge my colleagues in the U.S. 
Senate to include this provision in their bill as well. This provision 
just makes sense and it is important to reflect the colors of the flags 
of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories in any display of the 
flag by DoD. Servicemembers from these jurisdictions are respected and 
important members of the Armed Services and deserve to have the colors 
of their homes displayed.

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