Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing an official flag for the new American Nation. The resolution, now known as the Flag Act of 1777, stated that the flag would be ``thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.'' For the last 240 years, the American people have celebrated Flag Day every June 14, and, over that time, the flag has evolved. As we all know, changes have been made to its design, shape, and arrangement. The Flag Act of 1794 changed the design from 13 to 15 stars to accommodate the admission of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union. The Flag Act of 1818 mandated that the 13 stripes represented the Thirteen Original Colonies, the number of stars matched the number of States, and provided that subsequent changes in the number of stars would be made on the 4th of July. What has remained rock solid over that quarter millennium, however, is what our flag represents. It represents one nation, freedom, and justice for all, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of those core American values. Current law provides guidance for displaying and handling the flag so it is afforded the respect it deserves and has earned. In abiding by these guidelines, we all commemorate the value and love we hold for what our flag represents. That is why the legislation before us today, H.R.…”