A Republican lawmaker is looking to restrict the display of foreign countries’ emblems inside the House chamber after Democrats waved the Ukrainian flag in celebration of the passage of $60.84 billion aid legislation on Saturday afternoon.
Shortly before the foreign aid bills passed the House, Democrats were seen cheering while waving Ukrainian flags — prompting a rebuke by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who warned the display was a violation of House decorum. Now, GOP lawmakers are looking to ban the behavior altogether by drafting legislation that would prohibit the display of foreign flags at any time on the floor.
“Watching American representatives pass out & wave Ukrainian flags in the United States House of Representatives chamber infuriated me,” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) said in a post on X. “If there is one room in our country that should only have the American flag present, it is this room.”
It is not yet clear when the legislation could be brought to the floor for consideration, but Cammack noted her staff was drafting the text “as we speak.” Representatives will not return to Washington until April 29.
Several lawmakers were visibly upset with the display of Ukrainian flags, resulting in a brief moment of tension when Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) went to the microphone during votes to tell Democrats to “put those damn flags away.”
Johnson also reprimanded members, later releasing a statement referring to “disturbance on the House floor.”
“These are not normal times here in the House or around the world as we all know,” Johnson said. “I just want to say simply what I think most people around the country understand and agree, we should only wave one flag on the House floor. And I think we know which flag that is.”
Democrats, for their part, stood by their celebration. In fact, several were seen speaking to pro-Ukrainian protesters shortly after the vote to approve foreign aid. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) even thanked many in the crowd for their support.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A list of possible co-sponsors for Cammack’s bill is not yet known, although a handful of House Republicans criticized Democrats for the move, indicating substantial support among rank-and-file GOP lawmakers.
“Shouldn’t have any other flag but the American flag on the House floor,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said. “That’s ridiculous. … It’s inappropriate. It’s just lack of order.”
