Celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1429) celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H. Res. 1429 celebrates our Nation's most enduring symbol: the American flag. With this resolution, this Chamber expresses its support for the annual recognition of Flag Day.

The gentleman from Ohio, Representative Robert Latta, introduced H. Res. 420 on June 9, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which waived consideration of the bill to expedite its consideration on the floor today.

We celebrate Flag Day on June 14, the anniversary of the Continental Congress' passage of the first Flag Act in 1777. The flag is our symbol--a symbol of hope, courage, and freedom. All around the world, it represents the American people and our highest ideals. We, the people, have always looked to our flag as a symbol of hope, courage, and freedom, and for over 100 years, we have celebrated it each June.

As stated in this bill, the first celebration of the American flag is believed to have been introduced by Bernard Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher, who arranged for his pupils to celebrate June 14 as Flag Day in 1885. In 1947, President Truman signed legislation requesting that Flag Day be observed nationally each year, formalizing the tradition of annual Flag Day celebrations.

The flag honors the countless men and women of the Armed Forces who have died serving to defend the United States. It is a lasting symbol of their sacrifice. As public servants, we rightly pledge our allegiance to the flag each day as do millions of Americans.

As we remember who we serve here in this Chamber, the flag stands before the entire world as a symbol of our shared values, our hopes, our aspirations, and our ideals each day of the year, and I am glad that we take this time each June to celebrate that fact.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, each one of our States proudly flies its own flag, but the flag that reigns supreme flies above ours. In each one of our offices here in the Capitol, we have the flags from our States or from our territories and the flag of the United States.

I proudly say that the flag of California has a bear on it because we are the last frontier, and the strength of the bear represents the strength of our State. Also, current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of those who serves under the California flag, and he has his star on the Walk of Fame.

So I am so proud that the flag that the Speaker stands in front of in this Chamber and that adorns this Chamber is the flag that we celebrate. Every single American and every single person who lives in our country pays homage to our flag by flying it high.

I again urge all of my colleagues, Madam Speaker, to join me in supporting this measure.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 420) celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 420 celebrates our Nation's most enduring symbol: the American flag. With this resolution, this Chamber expresses its support for the annual recognition of Flag Day.

The gentleman from Ohio, Representative Robert Latta, introduced House Resolution 420 on May 17, 2009, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reported it out on June 4, 2009, by unanimous consent. With 64 cosponsors, it is a clear demonstration of Congress' appreciation and respect for our Nation's flag.

We celebrate Flag Day on June 14, the anniversary of the Continental Congress' passage of the first Flag Act in 1777. Since then, Americans have looked to the flag as a symbol of their country and its dearest values. The flag represents us and all of our fellow citizens, and I am always heartened to see the parades and events that occur around the country each year in commemoration of Flag Day, especially in one of my favorite towns, the town of Dedham, Massachusetts, which has a wonderful parade each year on Flag Day. And in the town of Dedham around Flag Day, it is hard to find a home without the American flag hanging on the front door.

The flag honors the countless men and women who have died during the defense of the United States in the Armed Forces. In short, the American flag is a lasting symbol of their sacrifice. As public servants, we rightly pledge our allegiance to the flag each day, as do the millions of Americans for whom we represent and serve here in this Chamber. While each day of the year the American flag stands before the entire world as a symbol of our shared values, hopes, aspirations, and ideals, I am glad to see that we set aside the time each June to celebrate the American flag and all that it represents.

With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I again urge our colleagues to join Mr. Latta, the lead sponsor of this resolution, in affirming our allegiance to our flag and our support for the annual celebration of Flag Day by supporting this measure.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, the 14th of June is an important day for all Americans, the day we celebrate the American Flag. The American Flag is a proud and prominent symbol of our great Nation and celebrating this important icon shows respect for the millions of Americans who consider the flag a representation of our nation's most fundamental traditions and beliefs.

As a member of Congress, I feel great pride when I see our striking stars and stripes flying over the majestic United States Capitol. Whether the Flag is flying among the mountains of southern West Virginia or above our nation's capitol, it is a sign of our nation's commitment to working together across our vast and diverse land to create one great nation. Our flag flies in every state and around the World at our embassies in foreign lands.

Today, the flag consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, seven red, alternating with six white, reminding us always of our Nation's humble beginnings as just thirteen colonies. The stars illustrate our one country with 50 independent and unique states each with a separate state government. Together, the stars and stripes reflect our efforts to create a unified nation with united principles joined together under one Flag for over 200 years.

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed legislation requesting National Flag Day become an annual event, and since that day we have been celebrating our stately Flag every year.

On Capitol Hill, the United States Flag is celebrated everyday. Flags are flown over the Capitol each day of the year in honor of birthdays, retirements, and, as well as in the memory of loved ones lost. These flags are then shipped directly from congressional offices with an official certificate from the Architect of the Capitol, declaring the date and occasion for which the flag was flown.

I ask that you join me in supporting House Resolution 420, thereby celebrating this American symbol, honoring our country, our men and women who have served and are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, our veterans who bravely fought beneath flag, and all citizens who proudly fly the American Flag to show their support for our great country, and the ideals this great Flag represents.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta).

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

All right. Now, this bill is actually something I can get excited about and that I'm sure we can be in unison on. So I hope Chairman Towns, wherever he might be, hears that loud and clear.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1429, celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

The American flag has been our national symbol for 233 years, and it remains a symbol of freedom wherever it is flown. Since 1777, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes, our flag has stood for liberty and justice.

Flag Day was first celebrated throughout the country in 1885, as one early supporter, Bernard Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher, wanted June 14 to be known as ``Flag Birthday.'' The idea quickly caught on, and many people wanted to participate. In 1894, the Governor of New York asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14 to begin observing Flag Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed the National Flag Day bill.

Since the beginning of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their appreciation and pride for this great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag, and our troops carry the flag as they defend the liberties for which it stands. On Flag Day, we remember the importance of our oldest national symbols, and we reflect on the loss of loved ones who died in defense of our Nation.

Let us pledge allegiance to this flag, to declare our patriotism and to raise its colors high to express our pride and respect for the American way of life and for the freedom that it represents.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of this legislation, supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

The American flag has been our national symbol for 232 years, and it remains a symbol of freedom wherever it is flown. In 1777, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes and its beautiful red, white, and blue design, our flag has stood for liberty and justice. Flag Day was first celebrated throughout the country in 1885, as one early supporter, Bernard Cigrand, a Wisconsin schoolteacher, wanted June 14 to be known as ``Flag Birthday.'' The idea quickly caught on and many people wanted to participate. In 1894, the Governor of New York asked that all public buildings fly the flag on June 14 to begin observing Flag Day. And in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Flag Day as a national celebration. However, the holiday was not officially recognized until 1949 when President Harry Truman signed the national Flag Day bill.

Since the beginning of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to show their appreciation and pride for this great Nation. Every day Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag, and our troops carry the flag as they defend the liberties for which it stands and which represent this country, the United States of America.

On Flag Day, we remember the importance of our oldest national symbols and reflect the loss of loved ones who have died in defense of this great Nation.

Let us pledge allegiance to this flag to declare our patriotism and raise its colors high to express our pride and respect for the American way of life. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio (Mr. Latta).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.