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Lawmaker seeks consistency in flag honors

While the House continues its third day of debate over the Bush administration’s new Iraq strategy, one Democrat is pushing a legislation he says will help show respect for fallen troops.

Related:

* The Flag Code: Title 4, U.S. Code, Chapter 1

* Discuss: Should flag etiquette and procedures for transporting remains of service members be changed?

After receiving complaints from military families, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., has introduced two bills, one dealing with proper flag etiquette for honoring fallen troops, the other involving procedures for transporting the remains of deceased service members.

The focus of the first bill has to do with when flags should be flown at half-staff for fallen troops.

“The current rules for lowering flags are inconsistent between federal and state buildings, causing a patchwork showing of respect for troops and their families,” Stupak said.

For example, he said flags were lowered to half-staff in the hometowns of some Michigan veterans last year, but some federal buildings did not join in the display of respect. His bill, HR 692, would require federal agencies to also lower flags when a state governor issues such an order.

The bill, which has 10 co-sponsors, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for legislation involving the display of the U.S. flag.

Stupak calls his bill the Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007. It is named for a Michigan resident who was killed in Iraq in July.

Stupak’s second bill, HR 691, involves the shipment of remains of service members. He wants the Defense Department to transport remains of service members to the airport, military or civilian, that is closest to the burial site chosen by the family. This would be a change from the current policy of shipping remains to the nearest major airport.

“Rural areas are frequently served by smaller airports and are often a great distance from a major airport," Stupak said. “The practice of the Department of Defense to only transport service members' remains to a major airport imposes a burden on the family and friends when they should instead receive our support."

Stupak said he had tried to get both issues addressed without legislation by writing to President Bush asking for help but has received no reply.

“The president could remedy both of these problems relatively easily," Stupak said.

Both bills are not partisan issues, he said, which is why he hoped to gain some support while the House of Representatives spends three days debating Iraq policy, with a vote planned for Friday on a resolution that expresses support for the troops but opposes President Bush’s plan to send 21,500 more service members into Iraq as President Bush has proposed.