McCollum Condemns GOP Interior-Environment Amendment to Reinstate Confederate Flag at National Park Service Cemeteries and Concessions

Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the lead Democrat of the House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement responding to the Republican leadership’s last minute amendment offered tonight to the FY2016 funding bill protecting the Confederate flag’s status in National Park Service cemeteries and concessions. The GOP amendment would reverse three amendments approved by the House yesterday on voice votes banning the Confederate flag from being displayed in cemeteries and sold in concessions under the control of the National Park Service.

“The Confederate flag is a symbol of slavery, racism, and hate that should never be celebrated or sold in our National Parks. For House Republicans it appears the cost of getting the votes to pass this terrible Interior-Environment Appropriations bill is to literally wrap themselves in this banner of racism. This bill is already a polluters dream, now the majority wants to make the bill truly toxic with this amendment.”

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