Department of the interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Chair, today I rise in strong opposition to senseless Republican attempts to allow Confederate flags to be displayed and sold in national parks and cemeteries. The Confederate flag throughout history has been a symbol of extreme hatred, deliberate malice, and continued segregation. Any attempt by Congress to uphold and profit from such an image is completely reprehensible.

Recently, states across the country have done the right thing and removed the Confederate flag from their State Capitol grounds, including my home state of Alabama. In fact, on July 9th South Carolina lawmakers voted to ensure that this contentious symbol is removed from its state capitol grounds. It is unconscionable to think that while South Carolina's legislature was working until the early hours of the morning fighting for the removal of the Confederate flag, my Republican colleagues were attempting to undo efforts by the House to prohibit the Confederate flag from being sold and displayed at our national parks and federal cemeteries.

The Confederate flag is a part of America's past and that is where it should stay. Removing the Confederate flag does not detract from America's rich history in any way, but instead is recognition of the fact that this flag represents hatred not heritage, treason not pride. In order for us to come together as a nation, it is necessary to remove the vestiges of the past that connect racism and segregation.

The preamble to the Constitution reads ``We the people'', making it evident that America is supposed to be one cohesive nation. As Members of Congress we have the responsibility to ensure that our actions reflect the will of the people. The Confederate flag does nothing but continue to divide this great country. Let's stand behind our nation's purpose, that all men are created equal, by prohibiting the selling and displaying of the Confederate flag at national parks and federal cemeteries.

I urge my colleagues to stand with me and reject this amendment.

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