Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the enhancement of unity in America.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1005 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the enhancement of unity in America. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 15, 2020 Ms. JACKSON LEE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the enhancement of unity in America. Whereas, on June 18, 2015, the United States Supreme Court correctly concluded in Walker III v. Texas Divi- sion, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc. (No. 14–144; 576 U.S., 135 S. Ct. 2239) that messages on State li- cense plates constitute ‘‘government speech’’, not private speech protected by the First Amendment; Whereas the Court also held that it is within the authority of a State such as Texas to reject messages on State- issued license plates, such as a depiction of the Confed- erate battle flag, that offend the sensibilities of its citi- zens; Whereas divisive symbols, license plates, specialty license plates, replicas, and flags on public buildings or govern- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1005.IH HR1005 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1005 IH ment property, which constitute ‘‘government speech’’, convey the vestiges of the history of slavery that has di- vided the United States; Whereas the role of government is to promote equal protec- tion under the Constitution and combat fear, oppression, and intimidation; Whereas these divisive symbols have historically targeted and perpetuated fear, oppression, and intimidation of certain groups of Americans; Whereas the continued existence of these divisive symbols as ‘‘government speech’’ is also a denial of equal protection under the law; Whereas the United States can only be a perfect union where all are and feel equally protected under the law; and Whereas equal protection under the law promotes a more per- fect union, fairness, tolerance, peace, and a sense of com- munity oneness, all unalienable rights enshrined in the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that the United States can achieve a more 2 perfect union— 3 (1) through avoidance of ‘‘government speech’’, 4 as the State of Texas did in Walker III v. Texas Di- 5 vision, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., which 6 promotes or displays symbols, signs, and vestiges of 7 racism, oppression, and intimidation in the States, 8 localities, and territories; 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1005.IH HR1005 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1005 IH (2) by immediately abating the use of ‘‘govern- 1 ment speech’’ through signs, actions, and words that 2 promote division and tear at the fabric of the Amer- 3 ican society; and 4 (3) by promoting tolerance and unity by taking 5 actions to ensure that ‘‘government speech’’ does not 6 foster division, disharmony, intolerance through gov- 7 ernment-issued or sponsored flags, signs, images, or 8 other symbols whether displayed in public or private. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 16, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1005.IH HR1005 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS