IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 12 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
enhancement of unity in America. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 3, 2017 
Ms. JACKSON LEE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
regarding the enhancement of unity in America. 
Whereas, on June 18, 2015, the United States Supreme 
Court correctly concluded in Walker III v. Texas Divi-
sion, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc. (No. 14–144; 
576 U.S., 135 S. Ct. 2239) that messages on State li-
cense plates constitute ‘‘government speech’’, not private 
speech protected by the First Amendment; 
Whereas the Court also held that it is within the authority 
of a State such as Texas to reject messages on State- 
issued license plates, such as a depiction of the Confed-
erate battle flag, that offend the sensibilities of its citi-
zens; 
Whereas divisive symbols, license plates, specialty license 
plates, replicas, and flags on public buildings or govern-
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•HRES 12 IH 
ment property, which constitute ‘‘government speech’’, 
convey the vestiges of the history of slavery that has di-
vided the United States; 
Whereas the role of government is to promote equal protec-
tion under the Constitution and combat fear, oppression, 
and intimidation; 
Whereas these divisive symbols have historically targeted and 
perpetuated fear, oppression, and intimidation of certain 
groups of Americans; 
Whereas the continued existence of these divisive symbols as 
‘‘government speech’’ is also a denial of equal protection 
under the law; 
Whereas the United States can only be a perfect union where 
all are and feel equally protected under the law; and 
Whereas equal protection under the law promotes a more per-
fect union, fairness, tolerance, peace, and a sense of com-
munity oneness, all unalienable rights enshrined in the 
Constitution: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the United States can achieve a more 
perfect union— 
(1) through avoidance of ‘‘government speech’’, 
as the State of Texas did in Walker III v. Texas Di-
vision, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., which 
promotes or displays symbols, signs, and vestiges of 
racism, oppression, and intimidation in the States, 
localities, and territories; 
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•HRES 12 IH 
(2) by immediately abating the use of ‘‘govern-
ment speech’’ through signs, actions, and words that 
promote division and tear at the fabric of the Amer-
ican society; and 
(3) by promoting tolerance and unity by taking 
actions to ensure that ‘‘government speech’’ does not 
foster division, disharmony, intolerance through gov-
ernment-issued or sponsored flags, signs, images, or 
other symbols whether displayed in public or private. 
Æ 
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