IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 12 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 Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc. (No. 14–144; 576 U.S., 135 S. Ct. 2239) that messages on State license 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 Confederate battle flag, that offend the sensibilities of its citizens; Whereas divisive symbols, license plates, specialty license plates, replicas, and flags on public buildings or government property, which constitute government speech , convey the vestiges of the history of slavery that has divided the United States; Whereas the role of government is to promote equal protection 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 perfect union, fairness, tolerance, peace, and a sense of community oneness, all unalienable rights enshrined in the Constitution: Now, therefore, be it