| TRAFICANT, James A., Jr., |
THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1998
Washington, D.C. – U. S. Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. (D–OH) said today that he's confident his amendment to the House-passed defense bill requiring U.S. veterans to be buried with American-made flags will remain in the final version of the legislation. "I was shocked to learn that some of our veterans are being buried with foreign-made U.S. flags," said Traficant. "As we near the Fourth of July holiday, I am gratified that this sorry practice will soon be brought to a stop."
In May the House passed legislation authorizing $270.4 billion in fiscal year 1999 for defense programs. Traficant attached an amendment to the bill requiring that any flag furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the burial of a U.S. veteran be made in America. Under the Traficant amendment, the materials and components of the flag have to be entirely grown, manufactured, or created in the United States. In addition, the processing, manufacture and assembly of the flag materials and components have to be entirely performed in the U.S. The Traficant amendment would take effect on October 1, 1998.
Last week the Senate approved its version of the defense bill. Differences between the House and Senate bills will be reconciled later this summer in a House-Senate conference. The conference report has to be approved by the House and Senate before being sent to the President. Traficant said today that he intends to work with the conferees to ensure that his flag amendment remains in the final version of the bill.
"When it comes to Old Glory, I don't give a darn about the global economy," asserted Traficant. "Any American veteran should be buried with an American-made flag. Period. Anything else would be un-American."