Stupak's flag bill signed by President Bush

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

************************* President signs Stupak bill into law

WASHINGTON - (June 2) - Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI-01) announced that the president has signed into law legislation that that will ensure that federal agencies lower their flags to half-staff in honor of fallen service members, in accordance with state governors' proclamations.

Stupak's bill requires 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.

"I am pleased that President Bush signed this legislation into law and recognized the importance of providing fallen troops with a uniform, consistent display of respect," Stupak said.

"Military families who lose a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan have made the greatest sacrifice," said Stupak.

"The least our government can do is ensure we honor the family in a manner that is befitting of their profound loss," he said.

In Michigan fallen service members are honored by lowering the flag to half-staff across the state.

Unfortunately, some federal agencies in the state, in the hometown, at the site of the memorial service, and in neighboring communities did not lower the American flag, creating an uneven display of respect.

The Law's official name is the "Army Specialist Joseph P. Micks Federal Flag Code Amendment Act of 2007" and is named for Joseph P. Micks, a soldier from Rapid River, Michigan who was killed in Iraq in July of 2006.

After Micks was killed in Iraq and Stupak heard from members of the community that some federal facilities had lowered the flag in his honor while others had not, Stupak wrote the White House, asking that the president issue a directive ensuring consistency.

It was only after the White House failed to respond that Stupak introduced and worked in a bipartisan manner to pass the legislation into law.

"This legislation will ensure consistency in how we honor fallen heroes," Stupak continued.

"While in many cases the local federal employees want to observe the governor's orders, they may not have received the appropriate directive from their regional offices," he said.

"This law simply ensures that when a fallen soldier, marine, airman or sailor is being laid to rest in the community, there will be no bureaucratic confusion and all of the state and federal facilities shall show a uniform display of respect for America's fallen heroes."

Stupak noted that the legislation was particularly important to rural areas.

"Rural America is disproportionately represented in the military," Stupak said.

"Because rural military funeral processions often travel long distances through multiple communities, it is particularly important that there be a single, uniform policy for federal agencies to follow in lowering their flags in honor of fallen troops," he said.

Stupak's legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in May and the Senate on June 14, Flag Day.

The president signed the bill into law late Friday.

Stupak's congressional district, Michigan's 1st, has more veterans than any other congressional district in the State of Michigan.

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