[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E743]
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

                         Tuesday, July 6, 2021

  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 shall 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 D.C. Mayor should qualify as such a principal. My 
bill would add the D.C. Mayor, who has 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. Last Congress, the Judiciary Committee passed the bill.
  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 expansive as others that Congress has already 
recognized. For example, legislation I have gotten enacted 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 required 
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.

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