United States · Law · HR
H.R. 2978 (101st)
Flag Protection Act of 1989
Introduced
24 July 1989
Last action
28 October 1989 · Became law
Status
Became Public Law No: 101-131.
Sponsors
Rep. Brooks, Jack B. [D-TX-9], Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10], Rep. Gephardt, Richard A. [D-MO-3], Rep. Gray, William H., III [D-PA-2], Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2], Rep. Synar, Mike [D-OK-2], Rep. Glickman, Dan [D-KS-4], Rep. Feighan, Edward F. [D-OH-19], Rep. Smith, Lawrence [D-FL-16], Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Staggers, Harley O., Jr. [D-WV-2], Rep. Bryant, John W. [D-TX-5], Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42], Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO], Rep. Chapman, Jim [D-TX-1], Rep. Coleman, Ronald D. [D-TX-16], Rep. Dingell, John D. [D-MI-12], Rep. Espy, Mike [D-MS-2], Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19], Rep. Fazio, Vic [D-CA-3], Rescom. Fuster, Jamie B. [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Guarini, Frank J. [D-NJ-14], Rep. Hochbrueckner, George J. [D-NY-1], Rep. Huckaby, Thomas J. (Jerry) [D-LA-5], Rep. Hutto, Earl [D-FL-1], Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5], Rep. Lehman, William [D-FL-17], Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17], Rep. Luken, Thomas A. [D-OH-1], Rep. McMillen, Thomas [D-MD-4], Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-23], Rep. Manton, Thomas J. [D-NY-7], Rep. Martinez, Matthew G. [D-CA-31], Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-15], Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3], Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1], Rep. Poshard, Glenn [D-IL-22], Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3], Rep. Rose, Charlie [D-NC-7], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Sikorski, Gerry E. [D-MN-6], Rep. Skelton, Ike [D-MO-4], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Tanner, John S. [D-TN-8]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Flag Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to eliminate knowingly casting contempt on the U.S. flag as an element of desecration of the flag. Provides for the expedited review by the Supreme Court of constitutional issues arising under this Act.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
24 July 1989
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
24 July 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
24 July 1989
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
26 July 1989
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
27 July 1989
Reported
Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
Source: Committee
27 July 1989
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
7 September 1989
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 143.
Source: Calendars
7 September 1989
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-231.
Source: Committee
7 September 1989
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 101-231.
Source: Committee
12 September 1989
Floor
Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 380 - 38 (Roll No. 226).
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 380 - 38 (Roll No. 226).
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules.
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Vote
Yeas and Nays were ordered. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed.
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Source: Floor
12 September 1989
Calendars
The chair announced that a second on the motion to suspend the rules is not required.
Source: Calendars
13 September 1989
Introduced
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
22 September 1989
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 258.
Source: Calendars
22 September 1989
Discharge
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged. Pursuant to the order of July 14, 1989.
Source: Discharge
22 September 1989
Committee
Senate Committee on Judiciary discharged. Pursuant to the order of July 14, 1989.
Source: Committee
4 October 1989
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
5 October 1989
ResolvingDifferences
Objection heard to the unanimous consent request.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
5 October 1989
ResolvingDifferences
Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
5 October 1989
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 91-9. Record Vote No: 227.
Source: Floor
5 October 1989
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
11 October 1989
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 262 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of disposing of Senate amendments to H.R. 2978. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. It shall be in order to consider in the House a motion to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 2978, with the Senate amendments thereto, and to concur in the Senate amendments. Debate shall continue not to exceed one hour and the time will be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: Floor
12 October 1989
Vote
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion to concur in Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 371 - 43 (Roll No. 286).
Source: NotUsed
12 October 1989
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 262.
Source: Floor
12 October 1989
Vote
On motion to concur in Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 371 - 43 (Roll No. 286).
Source: ResolvingDifferences
12 October 1989
ResolvingDifferences
The previous question was ordered without objection.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
12 October 1989
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of disposing of Senate amendments to H.R. 2978. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. It shall be in order to consider in the House a motion to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 2978, with the Senate amendments thereto, and to concur in the Senate amendments. Debate shall continue not to exceed one hour and the time will be equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: Floor
12 October 1989
Passed
Rule H. Res. 262 passed House.
Source: Floor
13 October 1989
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
16 October 1989
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
16 October 1989
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
28 October 1989
Became law
Became Public Law No: 101-131.
Source: President
28 October 1989
President
Sent to Archivist of the United States unsigned.
Source: President
28 October 1989
Became law
Sent to Archivist of the United States unsigned.
Source: BecameLaw
Votes
5 October 1989 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 2978 · Bill Passed · Official source
Yes 91 · No 9 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0
- Sen. Cranston, Alan [D-CA]Yea
- Sen. Dixon, Alan J. [D-IL]Yea
- Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY]Yea
- Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN]Yea
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Engrossed Amendment Senate · — · Download file
- Engrossed in House · — · Download file
- Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
- Introduced in House · — · Download file
- Placed on Calendar Senate · — · Download file
- Referred in Senate · — · Download file
- Reported in House · — · Download file
Documents
12 official files
Reported in House (text)
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN
Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN
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Placed on Calendar Senate (text)
Placed on Calendar Senate · EN
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN
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Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)
Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 29 October 1989
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Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 5 October 1989
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 12 September 1989
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Reported to House with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 7 September 1989
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 24 July 1989
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Sponsors
- Rep. Brooks, Jack B. [D-TX-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Gephardt, Richard A. [D-MO-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Gray, William H., III [D-PA-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Synar, Mike [D-OK-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Glickman, Dan [D-KS-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Feighan, Edward F. [D-OH-19] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Smith, Lawrence [D-FL-16] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Staggers, Harley O., Jr. [D-WV-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Bryant, John W. [D-TX-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Brown, George E., Jr. [D-CA-42] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Chapman, Jim [D-TX-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Coleman, Ronald D. [D-TX-16] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Dingell, John D. [D-MI-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Espy, Mike [D-MS-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Fazio, Vic [D-CA-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rescom. Fuster, Jamie B. [D-PR-At Large] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Guarini, Frank J. [D-NJ-14] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Hochbrueckner, George J. [D-NY-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Huckaby, Thomas J. (Jerry) [D-LA-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Hutto, Earl [D-FL-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lehman, William [D-FL-17] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Luken, Thomas A. [D-OH-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. McMillen, Thomas [D-MD-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-23] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Manton, Thomas J. [D-NY-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Martinez, Matthew G. [D-CA-31] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-15] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Mrazek, Robert J. [D-NY-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Poshard, Glenn [D-IL-22] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Rose, Charlie [D-NC-7] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Sikorski, Gerry E. [D-MN-6] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Skelton, Ike [D-MO-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Tanner, John S. [D-TN-8] · D · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 55 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to → To prevent the desecration of the United States flag.
- related to → To amend section 700 of title 18, United States Code, relating to desecration of the flag of the United States.
- related to → Amending section 700 of title 18, United States Code, to set criminal penalties for desecrating the flag of the United States.
- related to → Flag Protection Act of 1989
- related to → United States Flag Protection Act
- related to → Providing for a motion to dispose of the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 2978) to amend section 700 of title 18, United States Code, to protect the physical integrity of the flag.
- related to → To amend title 18, United States Code, to forbid the display of the flag of the United States on the floor or ground.
- related to ← A bill to prevent the desecration of the United States Flag.
- related to ← Biden-Roth-Cohen Flag Protection Act of 1989
- amends ← To clarify the conditions for expedited review of constitutional issues.
- amends ← To include maintaining a flag upon the floor or ground as a criminal act.
- amends ← To prevent the defiling of the American flag.
- amends ← To require that desecration of the flag be public in order to be a criminal act.
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · Flag Protection Act of 1989 · H.R. 2978 (101st) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 101-hr-2978 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/2978
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/101/hr/2978
- us · 101-hr-2978 · source updated 10 August 2026