[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 99 (Thursday, June 13, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E767-E768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO PERMIT THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE 
    FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A MAYOR OF THE 
                          DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce a bill that would make 
a small but respectful change to federal law by adding the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia to the list of named principals for whom the 
President can order the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff. Current law 
states that the President shall make this order ``upon the death of 
principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a 
State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their 
memory.'' Surely the death of a current or former D.C. Mayor should 
qualify as a principal. My bill would add D.C. Mayors, who have the 
same responsibilities as state and territory governors, to the current 
list of officials. This bill is a continuation of our ``Free and Equal 
D.C.'' series to ensure fair recognition of the nearly 700,000 citizens 
of the District of Columbia.
  Congress has already acknowledged that the District of Columbia is 
entitled to a place among the states for certain honors. The requested 
addition is not as significant as others Congress has already 
recognized. For example, legislation has ensured that the District of 
Columbia War Memorial honors only District residents who served in 
World War I, as intended, and that D.C.'s Frederick Douglass statue 
sits in the Capitol, alongside statues from the 50 states. We also 
successfully worked with the U.S. Postal Service to create a D.C. 
stamp, like the stamps for the 50 states, and worked with the National 
Park Service to add the D.C. flag alongside the state flags near Union 
Station.
  Legislation was also enacted to give D.C. a coin after it was omitted 
from legislation creating coins for the 50 states. Legislation was

[[Page E768]]

needed to require the armed services to display the District flag 
whenever the flags of the states are displayed. With these significant 
actions by Congress, it is not too much to ask to add the Mayor to the 
list of principals who are recognized upon their deaths.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________