House Administration Committee Chairwoman Candice Miller
sent a letter to her panel's Democrats saying she is looking to hear
more from the Mississippi delegation and state-level leaders on the
matter, and that she intends "to give thoughtful and serious
consideration" to
Rep. Bennie Thompson's proposal requiring flags with the Confederate symbol be removed from the House (unless it's the lawmaker's office displaying the flag).
- In a July 9 letter, the panel's three Democrats—ranking member Robert
Brady, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, and Vargas—suggested holding one or more
hearings on the resolution that has been referred to the House
Administration Committee. They also suggested marking up the resolution,
writing their own, or asking the superintendent of House buildings to
remove flags bearing the Confederate emblem (as all state flags hang
from the ceiling of the Rayburn House Office Building's basement).
"The
Confederate battle flag is obviously a symbol of both slavery and
segregation and secession. That's not an appropriate symbol to be
displayed in the Capitol of the United States," Minority Whip Steny
Hoyer told National Journal. "I would hope that we would make a determination to come to grips with that."
Lofgren
said Wednesday morning that she couldn't comment on the letter, as she
hadn't seen it yet (it was sent around late afternoon Tuesday), but that
the Democrats on the committee believe the resolution didn't get
referred just to bury it. "Let's take this up, let's have hearings,
let's take this seriously," the California Democrat said.
SOURCE:
National Journal
