WASHINGTON – As the nation observed Flag Day today, the United States Senate approved legislation this evening that will ensure that federal agencies lower their flags to half-staff in honor of fallen service members, in accordance with state governors’ proclamations.  The bill was authored in the House by Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) and a companion measure was introduced in the Senate by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). The bill would require all federal government agencies in a state to comply with a governor's proclamation to fly the national flag at half-staff in honor of those who lose their lives serving their country.

“One of my greatest honors as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is to spend time with our troops.  Their dedication, their professionalism and their commitment to duty is always inspiring,” said Levin.  “The entire nation, including the federal government, owes its fallen heroes an enormous debt of gratitude, and one of the most powerful ways we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is to fly the flag they fought under at half-staff.”

“This bill will ensure that when families of troops killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are laying their loved ones to rest, our government provides them with a consistent, honorable and appropriate display of respect,” Stupak said.  The House passed its version of the legislation by an overwhelming majority in May.
 
Recently, in Michigan's 1st Congressional District, fallen service members were honored with lowered flags in their hometowns and at the sites of their memorial services, but not in surrounding communities.  While federal facilities in the hometown and at the site of the memorial services lowered their flags, some federal institutions in neighboring communities did not, creating an uneven display of respect. 
 
The bill’s official name is the “Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007.”  The legislation is named for Joseph P. Micks, a soldier from Rapid River, Michigan who was killed in Iraq last July.  
 
“It is regrettable that this legislation is even necessary,” Stupak added.  “However, as there have been multiple instances where federal facilities ignored the Governor’s request to lower flags, it is important that Congress address this issue.  The President should sign this bill and ensure our federal facilities respect our fallen war dead in a manner fitting of their sacrifice.”
 
The legislation now heads to the President’s desk where the President will have ten days to sign or veto the bill.

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