Uniform Act:

No person shall publicly mutilate, deface, defile, defy, trample upon, or by word or act cast contempt upon any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield.

Different:

Alaska "while owned by others"

Connecticut "puts indignity upon"

Georgia "contemptuously abuse flag"

Iowa "satirize, deride or burlesque"

Massachusetts - "whether such flag is public or private property" "treats c ante mptuous ly"

Nevada - mulilates, tramples upon, or who tears down or wilfully ~nd maliciously removes while owned by others, or defames, slanders, or speaks evilly or in a contemptuous manner of or otherwise defaces or defiles any of the , or ensign, which are public or private property.

Oklahoma - "tears down, ... treats with indignity, or wantonly destroys the flag" ·

South Carolina - "jeer at"

;:;':Wisconsin- Whoever intentionally and publicly mutilates, defiles, or casts contempt upon the flag may be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 3 months, or both. ? ? ?

Wyoming - "tears down"

·. No persone shall publicly mutilate, deface, defile, defy, trample upon, or by word or act cast contempt upon any such flag, standard, color, ensign or shield.

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1 Code, tr> t.he Postal rc produc- Calendar No.1284 atives of · •til CoNGHESS .SENATE REPORT 1.d, that /•!Session } { No. 1287 ; hereby ediatelv :all read )t apply motion- PENALTIES FOR DESECRATION OF THE FLAG 3 of the 'traying tend to

Jmm 21 (legislative day, JuNE 19), 1968.-0rderecl to be printed

he Standi1w · the bill, n' Mr. DIRKSEN, from the Committee on the Judicia.ry, 1 be omittrd submitted the following lies, existin" ~ REPORT )URE [To accompany H.n. 10480] * Til(' Committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the bill ILK 10480) to prohibit desecration of the flag, and for other !1\l rj•o c: cs, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with * •·.' II!'IH.!Inent.s and recommends t.hat the bill as amended do pass.

branch of AMENDMENTS nay be pre­ 'trriers, shnl l 1. On page 1, line 8, after the word "whoever" insert the word 1six month ~, "i,Hrt \\·ingly". '2 . On page 1, line 9, after the word "defiling," insert the word ~pply to a1, · hn rning,". ~ production PunPOSE OF AJ\.mNDMENTS if the Postal •rtrayal do a The purpose of amendment No.1 is to make it clear that knowledge r.r, d Intent must be present to constitute n. crirninaJ act; and amend­ ''1•· nt :\o. 2 is to make it clear that the bill proscribes public burning d thr flag along with other contemptuous acts of destruction.

PuRPosE Th<' p\ll·pose of t.he proposed legislation, as amended, is to prohibit e; d punish by Federal law certain public acts of desecration of tho ,, ··'' ·~· S'1' A'rr~ 1\U~N'r Tlti;; bill wou_ld prohibit and_ punish by Federu~ lftw certain public 1 ' ' of desecratwn of the Amenca.n Jlag. It seems meongruous, but at bil-007 !pt. 1286

,_ 2 PENALTIES FOR DESECHA'l'I,ON OF THE FLAG the present time there is no Federal crirninnJ statue makin" rnilit :r desecration of the flag a criminttl oil'en~c, with tho solo exception of~ statuto codiflcd .in 4 U.S.O. 3, and duplicated in 22 D.O. Oodo 3414 thl'j' 1 which applies oxclu~ively to the District of Columbia. That st atut ~ \IllS H nf ll d prohibits, subject to a fino not exceeding $100 or impri~onmc nt for not more than 30 days, or both, tho usc of the flag for ad vcrtising or itt' hu1 Bitt S ' on merchandise, as well as the mutilation or dc~ccrntio n of tho Hng. The in~tn, nt bill is occasioned by a munbcr of recent public Hag. * burning incidents in various parts of the United States and in foreign * * countries by American citizens. It is dcsignccl to remeLly an anomah· ,•dgo, in existing bw where de~ecr11tion of tho flag is proscribed by Feclerlil (lyt', t sLtttute only in the District of Columbia. While each of the 50 State,; , -, _~l ti'J • by stutute prohibits certain acts of , the penaltie) they 1 imposed by the State sttttutcs vary widely. This bill would extend ! ifit'lti Federalprotection to our nn,tional t\alY. T ilt' l'Oll The House bill will assure F.ederal investigative and prosecutil'e ,j! •· •ll' t j t I jurisdiction over those who would cast contempt by publicly mutili\t­ n. .. !oi l! ( ing, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon tho flng of the United • :1· j, a! ( States. It is intended Lhat ~ttttc jurisdiction in this mtttter shotdd • lut'i t1 not be disphtced. Often, tho only immediate method of detection i\tHI ' 1· ,,[ pi apfn·ehension of those who desecmLe tho law mn,y be SLate and loc al ~· I ' t•.;. 'J.': po ice. In other areas, the exercise of Federal jurisdiction mn,y Ill' tI t• I It [ 94 (1 022)), the Supremo OoUl't made clear that citizens of the Unilt•l ~ .l>l.l· h.\ States while in a foreign country arc subject to the penal htws enacted ~ t a ~ t ,, to protect the United States or its property, though there was Ill' I' ddic I express statutory declaration to that effect. (See n,lso ll.1a1·in v. Un,ilt •i i "i··r.; at States, 352 Fed. 174 (O.O.A. 5, 1965), where the proscriptions of secLiou r~,. r nnt i 174, title 21, United States Code- importing narcotic drugs-wcrl· .J· lilt'\'. held to htwe cxtraterritoral application to U.S. citizens.) Uncl e• \ , .., ;rd section 3238, Litle 18, United States Code, crimes against the Unitt I H 1\ 111·1 States are triable in the district where tho offender is found, or i11t •• .\ : • ,t('h which he is first brought. \ ' L• rile\' . The committee believes that the bill is constitutional. It is impressed l' lt't' \~ i with the conclusion reached and the reasoning expounded in Uni~t J ~ .:•puitto States v. Miller (367 Fed. 2d 72 (O.O.A. 2, 1966), certiorari denitJ 35 U.S. Law Week, 3278). There, the Second Circuit Court of .Appc~J· affirmed a draft card burning conviction against a challenge of tL• .fi .• .r, ~ Federal statute as an unconstitutional abridgment of freedom ' f I ' ' I! I speech. (Of. O'Brien v. United States, Fed. 2d (O.O.A. 1, Apr. ll'. \ .\', /1. 19G7) .) In that case tho court stated: ,, \I: 1 1 * * * Except to prohibit destruction of certificates, the ' tl f) ! statute does not prevent political dissent or criticism in any I •: 1: way. It is narrowly drawn to regulate a limited form of action, ~ •~ d1 I Undel' the statute, aside from destroying certificates, appellant and otbel's can protest n,gainst tho draft, tho

S. Rcpt. 1287 PENALTIES FOR DESECHA'flON OF THE FLAG 3 a tue makj ,, 11 military action in Vietnam, n,nd tho stn.tut.e itself in any terms 3Xception of ~ they ";ish- and indeed did so n.t the rn1ly where appellant /.~ c·o d e 3414•l wus lUTes ted. Appellltnt claims, ho\\·evcr, that the burning That statu tr: 'Isonment for <•f n dmfL card is more dramatic than mere speech and that he has lt right to the most effective mon,Hs communicu,tion. tdvcrtising or of of tho flag. Hut surely this gcnemlization hits its own limits. * * * ~ public ila"­ * * * * * nd in forei,~ 1 * * * We are supported in this conclusion by the knowl­ 0 an anomnlr"' edge that appellant n,ud those who n.gree with hint remain d by Feder1iJ free, as indeed they should be, to criticize natioHal policy a::; the 50 State,; ·dgorously as they desire by the written or spoken word; the penaJLic ~ t.hey are simply not free to destroy Selective Service cer­ !'Ould extend tificates (367 Fed. 2d at 81, 82). The committee believes that H. R. 10480 will successfully withstand l prosecu ti 1·e 11 11 constitutional chnJlenges to which it may be subjected in the courts. !icly m u tiln.t _ The bill does not prohibit speech, the communication of ideas, or of the United p<,Jiticlll dissent or protest. The bill does not prescribe orthodox :titer should ('"nduct or require affirmative action. The bill does prohibit public etection and nd~ of physical dishonor or destruction of the flag of the United tte aud local :)tntcs. The language of the bill prohibits intentional, willful; not p •_ion may ])(' Hcridental or inadvertent public physical acts of desecmtion of the J mtere::;t that lla". Utterances are not proscribed. Specific examples of prohibited ,. 'ate bw on- <'lll~ dnct under the bill would include casting contempt upon the flag hy burning or tearing it and by spitting upon or otherwise dirtying it. 1 c: an citizens 'lllll're is nothing vague or uneerLain about the terms m ~ cd in the bill. j d the flagof . Of ~ourse, ~othing ~n t~e bill will prohibit any person f1:om comply­ s apply not lng \\1.Lh secLwn 176(]) title 36, Umted States Code, which provides of American t bn L when the il~tg "is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting :n (2GO U.S. t·mhlem for dis~)lay [it] should be destroyed in a dignified way, pref­ r the United rrnhly by burmng." Compliance with this provision obviously does 11 ws enacted nn! cast contempt on the flag. \.ere was no Public burning, destruction, and dishonor of the national emblem in v. United irdlids n.n injury on the entire Nation. Its prohibition imposes no .ts of section ~ubstantinl burden on anyone. Enactment of this legislation 1s wholly !rugs-wore ~n lntn.ry. 'ns.) Under Aecordingly, the committee recommends fltvorable consideration of the United lf.H. 10480, as n.mended. md, or intu ALLnched hereto and made tt part hereof is the letter from the Attorney General of the United States to the chairman of this com­ s impressed mit tee with respect to similar flag desecration bills pending before the .1 in United ((llnmittee. rari denied OFFICE OF •rJIE A:r'l'OHNEY GENEHAL, ·of Appeals ·washington, D.C., May 15, .1067. mge of tho l l !lf l. .TAl\rES 0. EASTLAND, :'recdom of l f '!1nirm an, Senute Jnd·ic?:ar?J Committee , l, Apr. 10, f ,,0...,', 8(')/(lfC, n Tashinuton, n.c. lhAH )-In. CHATIUTAN: Tl1is is in respon,.;c to a request for the views ;s, the ,.f thc DcpnrtmcnL of Justice on S. 515, S. 151)3, S. 1020, S. Hi2G, and tn any I ..;enute H(',.;olut.ion 73, nll \riLh respect to Jescenttiou of Lhe flng of wtion. :h<· Ur1it c,l SL,!Les. 1eatos, 'L, the

. t. 1287 S. He11t. 1287 =

4 PENAL'l'IES FOil. DESECHATION OF THE FLAG

There is uo Feclcru1 criminnJ legislation on this subject with the If the C1 sole exception of 11 sttttute codified in 4 U.S.C. 3 u.nd duplicated in ll!IY reason 22 D.C. Code 3414, whiclt applies exclusively to the District of wi tho Ntt! Columbitt. It prohibits, subject ton fine not execeding $100 or impris­ .ln~tico can, onment for not more Lhm1 :30 dn.ys, or both, the use of the flag for ,\ uational r advertising or ou merchandise, as well as the mutilation or desecration h• 1\\ l' I' Cl'1 e! of the flu.g. .;&tu ntions " Three of the bills here considered, i.e., S. 515, S. 1583, u.nd S. 1626, If C(lngr would amend 4 U.S.C. 3 for the purpose of exLeuding purt or all of t!ud the ;)tn 515 158:3 it to genernlmtlional applicability. 0£ this group, S. and S. lit!! (nr desc would retain u.ll of the htuguttge presently in section 3 but differ as to J•tri.;diction penalty provisions. S. 1G26 would modify the advertising provisions "Thi of section 3 as well as the provisions rclatiug to defacement or defile­ tho p1v ment of the flag 11ud change tho penalty provisions. S. 1620 would add or tho provisions to chapter 33 of the Criminal Code making it an offense ofl'ense to burn, deface, mutilate, or trmnple upon the flag of the United this ILC Stales. Differing from these measures, to impose a pennlty for deseem­ P1u·ticula tion of the flag, is Senate Resolution 73 whieh would ltuthorize 1\ '!'<'Cel t. To comprehensive study and investigation, by the Senate Judiciary ··Hltcr by w Committee or any Lluly authorized subcommittee for report and ~il dt langn recommendations to the Senate, on all matters pertaining to the display tir, t a menu n.lH.l use of the flag. ill·' ll"

S. Rept. 1287

.. I PENALTIES FOR DESECRATION OF THE FLAG 5 lhp lf the Congress determines that St11te or local enforcement is for 1 in •nr. reHson inadequate, or that there arc oYerriding rcn,sons why burn~ ' or u!.! the N n,tion's flag shou14 be .a Federal offense, th? Departm~nt of !l'i,. .T11 stice can, and of course w1ll, vigorously prosecute vwln.tors. 'iV1thout ' for fl ntltionnJ police force, which no one wants, Federal ofncials cannot, iiui1 hnwoYer, effectively prevent the commission of the erime in many ' . situations where only local police 11re av11ilable in adequate numbers. 326, l lf Congress decides to en11et such legislation, it should be clea,r .1 of !l11d· the St11tes will not by such enactment be precluded from prosecut~ '583 irw for desecration of the nationn,l fl11g. A provision to preserve State :; lo J ju;isdietion could read as follows: 10 11:, ; "This act shall not be construed as indicating an intent on tfilc- l the part of Congress to deprive any State, territory, possession add or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of jurisdiction over any mse offense over which it would have jurisdiction in the absence of ited this act." ern- Particular care should be exercised to avoid infringement of free \ :e n <.pccch. To make it a crime if one "defies" or "casts contempt * * * lni:y t'i llwr by word or act" upon the is to risk inva,lidation. and Such language reaches toward conduct which 1nay be protected by Jla.r lir,;t 111nendment gua,mntees. The courts hn,ve been insistent on guard~ ing against sn,nctions which re11ch the protected expression of ideas ;-ess, nnd also have struck do1vn on grounds of vagueness provisions which ure so broad that they might include protected speech along with :the conduct that could constitutionally be penalized. :eal: These issues were not involved in Halter v. Nebraska, 205 U.S. 34 g IS (1907) which upheld the power of a. State to enact legislation with :fice rc.-; pecL to the flag, but. are suggested by more recent decisions of the heir •·u urts dealing with other conduct im·olving manifestations of respect or disrespect for the flag and the system of government. in represents. ·the SrP, e.g., West Virginia State Board of Edttcation v. Barnette, 319 ll' it U.S. 624 (1943); Stromberg v. C<;Z,ifornia, 283 U.S. 359 (1931); Baggett IS It '. Bulh'tt, 377 U.S. 360 (1964). Phrases prohibiting speeeh m·e in fact unnecessnry to accomplish !the I the goal of prohibiting direct acts of disrespect or deseeration, because !he ren:11inin~ ln.nguage comprehensiye]y deseribes such acts. Accord~ s of tt1gly, m orcier to . reduce the risk of challenge on vagueness a,nd \ vho Ji!·st amendmenCg1·ounas,·it'is i;CZ..ori11rienctcd -thattlie\\,Oi·d . ·aefies" :arc nnc1 th~ phrase "or casts contempt, either by \\'OJ'cl or act," be a.voidcd the tt-i ~c pnrate 11Cts eonsLituLing offenses. To secure further profectiorl ion. 1\;.; ninst such constitutional cbi1lleng-e', we suggest thnt t.he objective mce nets described in the provision be made criminal only if performed as r of t\ means of casting contempt upon the fl11g. The eentrallangua.ge, as thus rc\'i,;ecl, \\'CHild Lhen rend: the "'VhocYer casts contempt upon fLny fln.g, sinndard, colors, or >the ensign of the United States by publidy mutilating, defacing, :; ing defiling, or trampling upon it., shall be punished by * * *." .hns If this legislation is to be ennet.ed, iL is the view of tl1is Department .· ntil th at \\·bile the selection uf the approprin,te penalLy for deseemtion of tlly, ll. t· flng is a mntt.er of legislati\·e polic·y, thoro should be fl 11nifonn aws ' 111 \lt!e for the Distriet. of Columbia and for the United States. S. 515 hflll

S. Hept. 1287 6 Pl!:NALTIES FOR DESECHATION OF 'l'HE FLAG, 1'1·.: or S. 1G20 would result in incun::;istent p enalties, applicltble to Lhe sam e 1 J 1LE 4 u:. conduct in cases !Lrising in the Di::; Lrict. We also suggest that thn c Di::; Lrict of Columbia Code provision be conformed or deleted to avoid any incon::;islency \\·it.lt the United Sttttes Code provi:>ions Lhat will he applie!Lblo in the District. Additionally, we s uggest o.voicl!Lnce of a r equirement of fine "ttnd" impri,:; mnncnt a::; proposed in S. 515. Snrh t .1 . l 'se of fh mmling is inconsi.-; ient with the sentencing flexibil.ity genero.Jly pro­ \ 11\' (ll' I'SOll vided by Federal erirninall!Lws. f . ,\hibilion We uecd only n,dd that we would find unobjectionable the proposal I _;·t'l't\ liUtl'k, in S. Res. 73 for 11 ::; tmly and recommeudtttions to the Uo11gress if it is 1, t1· r·· upon 1. felt that issues in t.his area cannot othm·\\·i::; e be resolved. l \ llll'l'il'it.; () The Burettll of the Budget has advised that tl10re is no objection lu ·It ll!\!.(, HLI the s ubrni s~; ion of this report from the ::; LandpoinL of the !Ldminislra­ , ; ',l ~· d I ' lJltiJl. Lion's program. . <'i't'tll lt•.t , af~ Sincerely, . dra 11 tn ~, t• RAMSEY CLAHK, l): -.t rit ·L of ( Allor ney General. · hli~ · \' iew, CHANGES IN ExisTING LAw ,,,.n 1t 11ay 1 , :u·t ide of In compliance with subsection (4) of rule XXIX of the Standing • r th in ~ for Rules of the Senate, changes in exis tin()' law made by the bill, as f I I \' h(•(l!l lJI reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted • , , lu ll of !Lil,l is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, existing tl ,,•nliun to law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): ,,., \\ hil'h so r .!. lid_v mtr TITLE 18·- UNITED STATES CODE- CRIMES AND CRIMINAl. t• nt[' t, l'it'ho PROCEDURE , 'l' i .~ n,] shn t-i• l'd by 11 n Chapter 33.- EMBLEMS, INSIGNIA, AND NAMES :h.tn thirty !h:z, slautl 700. Desecra.tion of the flag of the United Stales; penalties. .L 1~ , :-; lanclv 701. * * * .idtt• r, or oi • • • • * * r• J•rl',;e n Led §700. D esecration of the flag of the United States; penalties. r•lt it er of Sll. (a) Whoever knowingly casts contempt ·upon any flag of the United .\ rue rica or States by p1.tblicly rmLtilating, defacing, defiling, burning, o·r trampling I •' -hown Ll1 upon it shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more :t-t rt'of, or than one year or both. ·· ing Lhe i (b) The term "flag of the United States" as used in this section, shall · ··aL tho fl. include any flag, standard, colors, ensign or any picture or representat-ion \ rw·rica. of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size eviclently p·urpoTting to be either of said flag, standard, colors or ensign of the United States of America, or a pict·ure or a representu.tion of either, ·upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereQf or of any part 07' parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation mcty believe the same to represent the flag, standards, colors or ensign of the United States of America. (c) Nothing ·in this section shall be construed as indicating an intent on the pw·t of Congress to deprive any State, territory, possession or thr Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of j1trisdiction over any offense over wh-ich it would have jurisdiction in the ctbsence of this section.

S. Rept. 1287

'. ' · PENAL'l'IES FOR DESECRATION OF 'fHE FLAG 7 6 to the same• TITLE 4- UNITED STATES CODE-- FLAG AND SEAL, SEA'f .est that tl1c OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES 3ted to avoid ; that will be Chapter 1-THE FLAG oidancc of a S. 515. Such § 3. Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag. f)nerally pro- Any person who, within the District of Columbia, in any manner, fur exhibition or display, shall place or cause to be placed any word, •the proposal figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or any advertisement of any Jlgress if i L is n11 ture upon any flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States uf America; or shall expose or cause to be exposed to public view any · objection (o such flag, standard, colors, or ensign upon which shall have been l aclministra- printed, painted, or otherwise placed, or to which shall be attached, nppeuded, affixed, or annexed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, or drawing, or any advertisement of any nature; or who, within the ' CLAHK, DisLrict of Columbia, shall manufacture, sell, expose for sale, or to rney General. public view, or give away or have in possession for sale, or to be gi,·cn away or for usc for o,ny purpose, fLny o,rticle or substo,nce being nn article of merchandise, or tt receptacle for mercho,ndise or article the Standing or thing for carrying or transporLing merchandise, upon which shall ~ the bill, as luwe been printed, painted, atto,ched, or otherwise placed a represen­ 10 be omitted tl\tion of any such flo,g, standard, colors, or ensign, to advertise, call u.lics, existing attention to, decorate, mark, or di:s tinguish the o,rticle or substance on wlrich so placed [; or who, within the District of Columbio,, shRJl publicly mutilate, deface, defile or defy, trample upon, or co,st con­ I CIUMINAL tempt, either by word or act, upon o,ny such fiag, st.andard, colors, or ensign,] shall be deemed guilty of a misdeameo,nor o,ml sho,ll be pun­ ished by a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more .1.MES tlum thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court. The words "Jirrg, standard, colors, or ensign" o,s used herein, sho,ll include any Hag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, mo,de of o,ny substance or * represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be s; penalties. either of sR.id flag, sta,ndn,rd, colors, or ensign of the United States of of the United America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall · or trampling be shown the colors, the stars o,nd the stripes, in o,ny number of either l for not more thereof, or of any J?art or parts of either, by which the o,vemge person seeing the same w1thout deliberation may believe the same to repre­ ; section, shall f'C ut the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United Sto,tes of Tepresentation America. 1 substance o1· '"porting to be 1~ted States of which shall be f either thereof ·son seeing th'e :sent the flag, £. ·ting an intent .~session 07' the m.se over wh1~ch I i Uept. 1287 S. Rept. 1287 ~ fr· /Jo. (2(i7 {#111 &.; 2d _w, ::r_w.Ail) :74 I JfPB_

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:,____ "j------}~El'OH'l' (·,,:-;<:!tESS 11 No. :~50 ' ·', ., siotl

l'E~ALTIES FOR DESECH.ATION OF THE FLAG

, "· ~~ . J!l(ii.- llcf(•rrrd to the Honse Cnlenclar and ordered to be printed

'I· RocEns of Cnlomdo, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitten the follo\Ying

. REPORr:C

[To accompnny II. H. . 104SO]

Tl1<' Committee on the Judir·i1ry, to whom \Yil.S referred the bill ii . IL J04SO) to pruhihit. dcsccrntion of the flug, ha.Ying considered ,, "arne, report fn.YoJ'1Lhly thereon with amendments n.nd recom­ ,.,, t! thnl the bill do ]HlS'-'. TJ, ;•

ExPk\~A'l'ION oF A~rE~JDIEC\TS T hP pnrpo.-;c of the ttmenclmenis is io make clea.r that the bill pro­ ' Jil<'"i puhlic bmning of the flng n1ong with other contemptuous acts ·f clP,trnclion. PunPOsl~ ThP purpose of ihe hill is to prohihit a.nd punish by Fcdeml hLw ···linin puldic ads of dc ,; e~·mtion of tl1e flag.

S·rA TI·:~n;NT 'l' lt P 1Jill i..; oe<·;~Sioncd hy a numhcr of rcccJlt pulllic Hng-hmning ~·' tdPnh in Y:t.ri(tlls pa.r!s of the l'nitcd St:ttes and in forPign ('ountries '1 .\nwrir·nn <·.itizeus. ft j,; dcsig;ned to rPmeclY tW fLnomnlY in cxistin0; l \\ ,,.IH'f'cin clesccmtion of 1he f!:tg is pros('i·ibcd by Fedeml stntut'c 1_, in the District (If ('olu11Ji:in. \\'hat is more, nllhough Pnch of the · 1 :-- tn_trs b~ · slldtrte proltihits certain :tds of Jlng d<:>:.:C'l'f'i1tion, tl1e i :J.tl\rC's in1posed 1>.1' thr :)(air sl:>tutt's Y:try \\·idcly. 'l'ltc c·mnrnit.tr•c :·:wlttd<• s that the n:ttional CJnlJlrm should 1e giycn coll<'lll'f'Cnt. l··d(•ral prolrdion.

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