SW Arkansas Times

WASHINGTON - Congressmen Bruce Westerman (AR-04), French Hill (AR-02), Steve Womack (AR-03), and Rick Crawford (AR-01) have sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, expressing concern over the encouragement for VA facilities to display Pride flags at taxpayers' expense. The letter urges McDonough to remove any flag other than the American flag, the VA flag, state flags, and the POW-MIA recognition flag from VA facilities.

In their letter, the lawmakers stated:

"The Pride flag is once again flying over the VA facility in Little Rock, and our constituents and veterans across Arkansas have called on us to inquire about why the VA is expressing a clear political leaning. Your continuation of this policy demonstrates the continued disregard for the opinions of veterans you showed last year. The men and women who have served our country deserve to enter a facility that is free from discrimination and political posturing, and we should strive to provide them with an apolitical VA when they seek the care, benefits, and services they have earned."

On June 6, 2023, the Arkansas House Delegation joined 27 House Republican colleagues in a letter to Secretary McDonough voicing serious concern regarding the display of Pride flags at VA facilities. The VA replied with an interim response that contained errors and disregarded the original inquiry.

On June 5, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8580, the bipartisan Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025. Section 257 of this bill would prohibit using taxpayer funds to display special interest flags such as the Pride flag over VA facilities.

On June 7, 2024, Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) sent a letter to Little Rock VA Director Dr. Margie Scott reiterating frustration over displaying the Pride flag following a phone conversation regarding this decision.