Adam Smith: “I support both the Bartlett amendment and the Spence amendment to H.R. 3308. The Bartlett amendment will prohibit U.S.…”

“I support both the Bartlett amendment and the Spence amendment to H.R. 3308. The Bartlett amendment will prohibit U.S. military personnel from being forced to wear the uniform or any visible insignia of the United Nations unless specifically authorized by Congress. Article II, section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the President of the United States the sole responsibility as the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States, when called in to actual service of the United States. Therefore, I firmly believe that wearing any emblem from any foreign nation or international organization is unconstitutional. Currently, the bill only requires the President to certify to Congress the extent to which U.S. troops would be required to wear U.N. insignia. With the adoption of the Bartlett amendment, the President will be required to seek congressional approval before requiring U.S. troops to wear U.N. insignia. In regard to the adoption of the Spence amendment to the bill, I believe this provision is an important change that will allow me to support the bill. This amendment recognizes the law and provisions within the Constitution of the United States as 'superseding, negating, or otherwise affecting the requirements of section 6 of the United Nations Participation Act.' Consequently, this provision clarifies that the U.S. commanding authority will always supersede any U.N.…”