The Federal Government has a legitimate interest in protecting the American flag. Our nation's flag is an important national symbol that has inspired great acts of sacrifice and embodies everything that America stands for. For this reason, I plan to cosponsor the Flag Protection Amendment, which simply states, "The Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the Flag of the United States."

Over the years, the offensive act of flag burning has been used to protest wars, homelessness, political parties and other various causes. Burning the flag does not convey any particular message, but is simply meant to provoke an emotional response. The Supreme Court has consistently held that certain forms of expression can be prohibited if the speaker is free to express their feelings in other ways. This amendment would not limit the freedom of speech because there are other ways to convey the same message just as effectively.

The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly adopted this identical flag protection amendment four times, but has fallen just short of the necessary two-thirds majority in the Senate. In the wake of one of the greatest tragedies our nation has ever faced, the American people have embraced the flag as a symbol of unity and shown an increased recognition of its significance to the fabric of our nation. We owe all Americans the assurance that the law of the land prevents its destruction.