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On
June 3, 2003, by a vote of 300-125, the United States House of Representatives
passed House Joint Resolution 4, the flag amendment, for the fifth time in consecutive
Congresses. On March 10, 2004 the Senate Judiciary Committee conducted hearings
on their version of the resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 4) and the amendment
is now moving forward in the Senate. A vote on S.J. Res. 4 is imminent and expected
to occur between Memorial Day and Independence Day, July 4th.
The
national campaign to enact a flag protection amendment began in 1989 when the
Supreme Court ruled that flag desecration was a means of public protest in an
act of free expression protected by the First Amendment. Many Americans find it
strange that federal law protects symbols such as the bald eagle and our currency
from destruction but does not protect the flag. According to the Citizens Flag
Alliance, 75-80 percent of the American people have consistently supported a flag
protection amendment. S.J.
Res. 4 reads:
"The
Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of
the United States." "The
SJR 4 does not itself prohibit the physical desecration of the flag, but merely
provides that Congress may do so," Assistant Attorney General Daniel Bryant said
in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "By passing this resolution,
Congress is not itself amending the Constitution but is simply providing the states
an opportunity to deliberate and ultimately decide whether the Constitution should
allow Congress to protect the United States flag." National
Grange has actively worked for the flag protection amendment as a member organization
of the Citizens Flag Alliance. The National Grange's policy statement on the protection
of the U.S. flag is as follows: The
National Grange opposes the desecration of the American flag, with the act of
desecration being classified as a federal felony and the penalty being strictly
enforced with no exception. If this law is not upheld, we urge Congress to pass
a constitutional amendment that will ban the desecration of the American Flag.
A
VOTE ON S.J.RES. 4 IN THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN MEMORIAL DAY AND
INDEPENDENCE DAY! PLEASE URGE YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT THE FLAG PROTECTION AMENDMENT!
Contact
List of U.S. Senators | Sample
Letter: |
Dear
Sen. ___________:
I
am writing to urge you to support the Flag Protection Amendment (SJR 4). I believe
that Congress should have power to effect laws that will prohibit the physical
desecration of the U.S. flag. The American flag represents our identity and a
vital symbol of "Old Glory". Destroying the American flag should not be protected
as freedom of speech. Constitution
itself is the result of the opinion of the majority. The final word on the Constitution
belongs not to the Supreme Court but to the people. Please let the people decide!
Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
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For
more information: Cosponsors
in the Senate - Joint Resolution 4
National
Grange View for the Hill: House Passes Flag Protection Amendment
National
Grange Action Alert: Prohibit the Physical Desecration of the U.S. Flag! If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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Hill. | 
