Introduction of A Bill to Permit the Flag of the United States to Be Flown At Half-Staff in the Event of the Death of A Mayor of the District of Columbia
Floor Speech
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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce a bill that would make a small but respectful change to federal law by adding the Mayor of the District of Columbia to the list of named principals for whom the President shall order the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff. Current law states that the President shall make this order ``upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.'' Surely the D.C. Mayor should qualify as such a principal. My bill would add the D.C. Mayor, who has the same responsibilities as state and territory governors, to the current list of officials. This bill is a continuation of our ``Free and Equal D.C.'' series to ensure fair recognition of the nearly 700,000 citizens of the District of Columbia. Last Congress, the Judiciary Committee passed the bill.
Congress has already acknowledged that the District of Columbia is entitled to a place among the states for certain honors. The requested addition is not as expansive as others that Congress has already recognized. For example, legislation I have gotten enacted has ensured that the District of Columbia War Memorial honors only District residents who served in World War I, as intended, and that D.C.'s Frederick Douglass statue sits in the Capitol, alongside statues from the 50 states. We also successfully worked with the U.S. Postal Service to create a D.C. stamp, like the stamps for the 50 states, and worked with the National Park Service to add the D.C. flag alongside the state flags near Union Station.
Legislation was also enacted to give D.C. a coin after it was omitted from legislation creating coins for the 50 states. Legislation required the armed services to display the District flag whenever the flags of the states are displayed. With these significant actions by Congress, it is not too much to ask to add the Mayor to the list of principals who are recognized upon their deaths.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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