URBAN ECONOMIC POLICY COMMITTEE

LOCAL AUTHORITY TO LOWER THE AMERICAN FLAG TO HALF-STAFF

WHEREAS, America’s local public safety personnel provide an invaluable service to the nation, and often put their lives at risk in the line of public service; and

WHEREAS, the nation’s locally-elected mayors are responsible for the management of public safety personnel within their cities; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Flag Code, established in 1942, says that only the President of the United States or state governors are authorized to order U.S. flags lowered to half-staff on public property; and

WHEREAS, there is no civil or criminal penalty for Federal Flag Code violations; and

WHEREAS, mayors should not be preempted from having the ability to honor the death of local public safety personnel, as well as other cherished local public servants, without the taint of any federal violation,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation which will amend the Federal Flag Code to authorize mayors to order the lowering of U.S. flags to half-staff on public property.