David Thomas: “I speak in favor of the flag protection amendment to the Constitution. It is an honor for me to be a cosponsor of this…”

“I speak in favor of the flag protection amendment to the Constitution. It is an honor for me to be a cosponsor of this constitutional amendment, 1 of 58. Most everything has been said, I suppose, that needs to be said about it. Of course, no one here is in favor of desecration of the flag. What we have is a difference of view as to how to deal with that issue. This constitutional amendment has been around for a very long time and has been considered several times. Certainly, this symbol of the flag is one that should be held in the highest regard. Most everyone agrees with that. This measure states: The Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. That should be the case. It seems to me what that does is helps to define freedom of speech. We can do that. What we are saying is it is illegal to physically desecrate the flag of the United States. I cannot imagine how people can disagree with that. The Senate has voted on this matter in the past in 1989, 1990, and 1995, and each time a majority was in favor. The House passed an identical measure in June of 1999 by a vote of 305-124 with a sufficient majority. Each year we get a little closer to passing it. Why do we need a flag protection amendment? Forty-nine State legislatures have already passed resolutions urging this constitutional amendment.”