Van Orden Signs onto Resolution Prohibiting Flags of Foreign Nations from Being Displayed on the House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) signed onto Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s (R-FL) resolution to prohibit Members of the House of Representatives from bringing or displaying a flag of a foreign nation on the floor of the House.

The prohibition shall apply to a flag of a foreign nation regardless of the size of the flag. Exceptions include a flag of a foreign nation worn as a lapel pin by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner, and the depiction of a flag of a foreign nation used as part of an exhibit during a speech or debate under the rules of the House of Representatives. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives is responsible for enforcement of the prohibition.

The resolution comes after lawmakers waved the flag of Ukraine on the floor of the House of Representatives following the passage of H.R. 8035 on April 20, 2024.

"I am a member of the United States House of Representatives, not the parliament of another nation,” said Congressman Van Orden. “Every Member of the House is an American before they are a Republican or Democrat. I only wore one flag on my uniform during my time in the military and there should only be one flag flown in the People's House, that is the American flag. There are many ways to show respect to our allies, but displaying their flags on the House Floor is not one of them.”

"On the floor of the United States House of Representatives, there should only be one flag on display: ours," said Rep. Cammack. "We make serious decisions on behalf of the American people and their taxpayer dollars on the House floor. This business should be carried out beneath no other banner than our stars and stripes to remind us of who we represent and why this nation is the greatest in the history of the world. I'm glad to have earned the support of dozens of my colleagues who join me in standing up for the American people and putting our nation before all others."

Read the text of the resolution here.