Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) has introduced the Allegiance Act, aiming to prohibit the display of foreign flags on U.S. Capitol grounds. The legislation would prevent members of Congress from using government funds to purchase foreign nations’ flags and restrict displays to the U.S. flag exclusively.
Moreno, a Colombian immigrant who became a successful entrepreneur in Ohio, expressed that witnessing elected officials display foreign flags in Congress deeply offends him. He emphasized his sole allegiance to America and criticized the practice of showcasing other nations’ flags within the legislative chambers.
Further explaining his intention behind the Allegiance Act, Moreno explained: “When I came to this country as a child, I swore allegiance to America and America alone, which is why it’s so deeply offensive to me to see elected officials flying the flags of foreign nations like Ukraine in the halls of Congress.
“We swore an oath to the American people we would always put them first. Let’s start acting like it and stop sending billions overseas on endless wars when average Americans are struggling.”
The bill responds to instances where foreign flags, such as Ukraine’s, have been displayed in Congress. In December 2022, then-Vice President Kamala Harris and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi held up a signed Ukrainian flag during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Prior to President Donald Trump’s recent address to Congress, Moreno distributed American flags to Republican attendees, underscoring his belief that only the U.S. flag should be present in the chamber. He described the display of other countries’ flags by Democrats as disgraceful. foxnews.com
This initiative mirrors a previous proposal by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) who introduced a similar bill after lawmakers waved the Ukrainian flag in the Capitol. Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) supported Cammack’s resolution, stating that only the American flag should be flown within the halls of Congress.
