June 14, 2021

House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 51 introduced into the 117th Congress on Flag Day, June 14, 2021, by Rep. Steve Womack (R) of District 3, Arkansas, along with five original co-sponsors. Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res.) 20 introduced the same day by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., with five original co-sponsors. Both bills propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. H.J. Res. 51 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 14th. S.J. Res. 20 was also referred to the Committee on the Judiciary the same date.

June 22, 2020

House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 65 introduced into the 116th Congress on June 13, 2019 by Rep. Steve Womack (R) of District 3, Arkansas, along with 14 original co-sponsors, now has 19 co-sponsors.  Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res.) 49 introduced the same day by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., with four original co-sponsors, now has nine co-sponsors.

June 1, 2020

President Trump calls for Supreme Court to reconsider flag burning laws.

June 28, 2019

H.J. Res. 65 referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

June 15, 2019

President Donald Trump expressed his position of support for a flag protection amendment by stating in a tweet, “All in for Senator Steve Daines as he proposes an Amendment for a strong BAN on burning our American flag. A no brainer!”

June 13, 2019

Rep. Steve Womack (R) of District 3, Arkansas, introduced House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 65 into the 116th Congress, along with 14 original co-sponsors, which aims to restore Congress' constitutional authority over prohibiting desecration of our national colors. It was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary the same day.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., with four original co-sponsors, introduced Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res.) 49 on Flag Day, calling to give Congress the authority to prohibit deliberate acts of physical desecration to the U.S. flag.  It was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.  The measure coincides with a similar bill in the House that was introduced the same day by Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

June 14, 2017

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., with eight co-sponsors, introduced Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res.) 46 on Flag Day, calling to give Congress the authority to prohibit deliberate acts of physical desecration to the U.S. flag. The measure follows introduction of a similar bill in the House on Feb. 2 by Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

February 2, 2017

Rep. Steve Womack (R) of District 3, Arkansas, introduced House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 61 into the 115th Congress, along with 13 original co-sponsors, which aims at restoring Congress' constitutional authority over prohibiting desecration of our national colors. Womack is a veteran, who believes specific protections of the flag should not simply be law. They should be enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution was last amended in 1992 with the ratification of the 27th Amendment, which limited laws regarding the raising or lowering of Congressional salaries.  Some opponents of a flag amendment would lead others to believe that the amendment, standing alone, will ban flag desecration – it will not – it is an enabling amendment. It would merely return to Congress the power to pass legislation that would protect the flag. It would only allow Congress to write a law that, like any law, would be subject to debate, required to be voted on by both houses of Congress, and subject to veto by the President

November 29, 2016

President-elect Donald. J. Trump expressed his position that there should be some penalty for U.S. flag desecration by stating in a tweet, “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!”

July 27, 2016

The Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc., continued the tenure of Richard Parker, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, through its reaffirmation of Parker as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CFA.

July 30, 2015

Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, introduced Senate Joint Resolution 21, companion bill to Rep. Steve Womack’s. The bills state simply, “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

January 9, 2015

Rep. Steve Womack(R) of District 3, Arkansas introduced a joint-resolution to the U.S. Congress which aims at restoring Congress' constitutional authority over descration of our national colors. Womack is a veteran, who believes specific protections of the flag should not simply be law. They should be enshrined in the Constitution. The Constitution was last amended in 1992 with the ratification of the 27th Amendment, which limited laws regarding the raising or lowering of Congressional salaries. 

June 13, 2013

For the ninth time in his career, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, proposed a flag-protection amendment in the Senate on June 13. Hatch introduced Senate Joint Resolution 17, proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would give Congress the authority to protect the U.S. flag from physical desecration.

May 25, 2013

An amendment giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States., H.J. Res 47, was reintroduced in the House of Representatives this week by Reps. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., and Dan Lipinski, D-Ill. The resolutions reads simple, “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

January 23, 2013

On Jan. 23, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., introduced House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 19, a bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

June 14, 2011

June 14, 2011 - Senators Max Baucus (MT) and Orrin Hatch (UT) introduced Senate Joint Resolution (S.J. Res.) 19, a Constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to protect the American Flag from acts of physical desecration.

January 7, 2011

On January 7, 2011, Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO) reintroduced legislation for the 112th Congress proposing a constitutional amendment which would restore to Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag.  House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res.) 13, simply reads: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

December 1, 2010

With the 111th Congress nearing its end, hopes for amendment action are bleak, marking only the second Congress in more than 16 years in which there was no floor vote on a flag protection amendment.  There is no expectation for action on Capitol Hill before Congress adjourns.  Anticipating return of the amendment in the next Congress, efforts get underway to assess flag amendment support among members of both the House and the Senate in the 112th Congress.

October 1, 2009

With only 72 cosponsors for H.J. Res. 47 and only 26 cosponsors for S.J. Res. 15, the road to enactment in the 111th Congress looks to be a long one.  The House resolution is in the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Senate resolution is in the Committee on the Judiciary.  A simple majority of cosponsors in both chambers is lacking and expectations for hearings are low.

June 1, 2009

Reaffirmed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc., Richard Parker, Williams Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, continues his work of many years with The American Legion and the Citizens Flag Alliance in support of a proposed constitutional amendment to protect the flag.

May 6, 2009

Senate Joint Resolutions 15 is introduced by Senator David Vitter [R-LA].  The legislative strategy to be employed includes letters of support and appreciation to all cosponsors from The Citizens Flag Alliance Board Chairman Richard Parker.

April 30, 2009

Representatives Jo Ann Emerson [R-MO] and Jim Marshall [D-GA] introduce House Joint Resolution 47, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

March 1, 2009

To determine the latest measure of support, Legionnaires attending the Annual Washington Conference of The American Legion raise discussion with members of Congress in their Capitol Hill offices. Discussions with both Sen. Vitter and Rep. Emerson lead to expectations for the introduction, by each, of a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag in their respective chambers. Reports from Legionnaires and surveys completed previously by the CFA show that among the 435 members of the House, more than 225 are amendment supporters. In the Senate a simple majority claims support for a flag amendment.

January 6, 2009

Senator David Vitter [R-LA] introduces Senate Joint Resolution 2, “proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress and the States to prohibit the act of desecration of the flag of the United States and to set criminal penalties for that act.” The following day Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R-MO], introduces House Joint Resolution 8, a companion measure. The language of these resolutions is problematic, since they give power to the Congress “and the States” to prohibit flag desecration and place “criminal penalties” on the act. Both issues concern the CFA. Both have been considered, studied, debated, reconsidered, and long since dropped from proposed amendments supported by the Citizens Flag Alliance.

January 1, 2009

With significant changes in leadership on Capitol Hill, opportunity for hearings and other flag amendment action, early on, appears slight as the 111th Congress convenes. The first hurdle is to get a proposed amendment introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States.

December 1, 2008

The close of the 110th Congress marks the first in six consecutive congresses that a proposed flag amendment did not get to the floor of either chamber for a vote. Consequently, there is little opportunity for activation of grassroots efforts so critical to securing a flag amendment.

September 1, 2008

With congressional action lacking on a flag amendment during the Second Session of the 110th Congress the media is virtually silent, leaving scant opportunity for CFA to draw public attention to the amendment. Focus now turns to the 2008 Elections where early results indicate fair support for a flag amendment among members of the House, but far less support in the Senate.

December 1, 2007

At the close of the First Session of the 110th Congress, little has been seen or heard of H. J. Res. 12, beyond its introduction at the start of the session. The CFA is unable to secure a Senate champion who is willing to make introduction there. Former supporters suggest, since the Congress is predominantly Democrat, that the chief Senate cosponsor ought to be a Democrat. None come forward; none can be persuaded to make the introduction.

January 11, 2007

House Joint Resolution 12, the flag amendment, is introduced in the 110th Congress by US Rep. John Murtha [D-PA]. Discussions get underway with Senators to effect similar actions on their side of the Hill, but at year’s end a Senate amendment is non-existent.

November 7, 2006

The mid-term elections result in a change of leadership in both Houses of Congress. With those changes come changes in Committee structure and leadership. Those who strongly advocated for the amendment move out of their positions of authority while those who have advocated its defeat move in.

June 26, 2006

Tennessee’s U.S. Senator Bill Frist hosts a press conference on Capitol Hill and is joined by supporters to include chief sponsors of the measure, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Dianne Feinstein. Media attention peaks when Major League Baseball great Rick Monday and former Miss America Heather French Henry call for full Senate support of the flag amendment.

June 26, 2006

Later in the day the floor debate begins. S.J. Res. 12 is put to a vote, but is lost by one. In a 66-34 finish, the decision to protect the flag is again kept from the people by a handful of United States Senators.

June 25, 2006

Supporters return to “Walk the Hill” again to nail down the single vote that is needed.

June 13, 2006

With the vote approaching, a CFA-sponsored “Walk the Hill” event enjoys participation from more than one hundred amendment supporters.

May 1, 2006

Media attention mounts as press conferences are conducted at Hartford, Connecticut; Dover, Delaware; Springfield, Illinois; Frankfort, Kentucky; Albany, New York; Bismarck, North Dakota; Warwick, Rhode Island; Salt Lake City, Utah; Olympia, Washington; and Charleston, West Virginia to announce polling results in those states. With that, the flag amendment becomes “front page” news.

April 1, 2006

The CFA launches “Countdown to Victory.” A plan is developed and executed to secure the one vote needed to pass the flag amendment. Polling is done in several key states; press conferences are set to announce the results of the polls. Letter writing, emailing, and personal visit campaigns are set in motion. All efforts are focused on the June 26 date.

March 1, 2006

Representatives of the Citizens Flag Alliance descend on Capitol Hill in early March to go face-to-face with a number of Senators on the flag amendment. Visits with Majority Leader Bill Frist result in the “promise” of a date to bring the flag amendment to the floor for a vote: the week of June 26, 2006.

February 1, 2006

With support for the amendment at a record high, a letter writing campaign is launched, focusing on all members of the Judiciary asking that they bring SJR 12 to a hearing before April 1, 2006.

January 1, 2006

The Second Session of the 109th Congress brings excitement with the departure of amendment opponent Sen. Jon Corzine, who wins an election bid for Governor of the State of New Jersey. The appointment to fill his un-expired term goes to long-time flag amendment proponent Robert Menendez, formerly the U.S. Representative from New Jersey’s 13th District. This puts support for the flag amendment at 66 – just one vote away from the required 67 votes.

November 1, 2005

Promises are made and tentative schedules are set for hearings on Senate Joint Resolution 12 by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights. In last minute “bargaining” schedules are scuttled after opponents suggest a later time for hearings would better suit the Senate’s calendar. The First Session of the 109th Congress adjourns with the Senate having taken no action on the flag amendment.

September 1, 2005

Nominations and hearings associated with the selection of new Supreme Court Justices pushes aside Senate action on the flag amendment. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita further burden the Senate schedule as relief legislation gets priority attention and many measures – to include the flag amendment – are placed on a back burner.

August 1, 2005

Reacting to media reports that play fast and loose with the facts, and commentary detrimental to the flag amendment in the state of Utah, the CFA commissions yet another survey to determine the precise level of support among residents there. Results of the 500-respondent poll refute the media hype, revealing that 8 of 10 Utah residents believe that flag desecration should be against the law. Seventy percent of all respondents “favor” the amendment. The CFA calls a press conference in Salt Lake City in early August to announce the polling results. Media attention to the issue is good and the CFA gets its points and figures into the press.

July 1, 2005

In concert with the Hill presence, the CFA places pro-amendment ads in The National Journal, a prestigious Capitol Hill magazine. Ads run in four consecutive issues through the month of July. Subjects include results of the national survey; a discourse by Harvard Law School Professor Richard Parker on why a “statute approach” [simple law] to flag protection will not work; a public declaration of support by Medal of Honor recipients is stated; and a second piece that exposes the mind-set of Senators who discredit the amendment while touting the merits of a simple statute.

July 1, 2005

In further support of possible Senate action on the amendment, the CFA organizes a “Walk the Hill” event and invites CFA partners to participate. Twenty-five representatives of various member organizations spend three days on Capitol Hill meeting face-to-face with Senators and their staff. Opposition is addressed, support is gathered, and commitments are nailed down.

June 1, 2005

Anticipating Senate action soon, a major letter writing campaign is launched within the ranks of the CFA and aimed at every member of the United States Senate.

June 1, 2005

The Citizens Flag Alliance commissions a nationwide poll to determine, once again, the public’s desire for flag protection. Results are not surprising. The survey of more than 1,000 adult respondents shows 80 percent believe flag desecration should be “against the law”; 75 percent of all respondents “favor” the flag amendment. These figures reflect extremely consistent support among the American people, support that has not waned over sixteen years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Texas v. Johnson.

June 1, 2005

House Joint Resolution 10 goes to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives where attempts to scuttle it fail. On June 22nd the proposed amendment passes 286-130, marking the sixth consecutive time that a flag amendment has passed in the House.

April 1, 2005

Senators Orrin Hatch [R-UT] and Dianne Feinstein [D-CA] introduce Senate Joint Resolution 12 on April 14th. Fifty Senate cosponsors join them in support and by July the number of Senators on record in support of the amendment is at 58, nine away from the 67 needed to pass the amendment.

January 1, 2005

The 108th Congress adjourns, sine die. The flag amendment never gets to the Senate floor. On Tuesday, January 25, 2005, Representatives Duke Cunningham [R-CA] and John Murtha [D-PA], with 46 cosponsors introduce House Joint Resolution [H.J. Res.] 10, a proposed constitutional amendment that reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." Similar action is pending in the Senate, where backing for the amendment is greater than ever with 65 supporters of record.

November 1, 2004

MG Brady makes a strong appeal to Senate Republican and Democrat leaders to take action on the amendment. The American Legion purchases ad space in prominent Washington publications – and in no uncertain terms chastises both supporters and opponents in the Senate for allowing the “will of the people” to languish in the closing days of the 108th Congress.

Pages