Representative Heath Shuler today announced that the Architect of the Capitol has revised the rule that prevented religious language or references from being used on the certificates that accompany flags flown over the Capitol. The policy change comes one day after Rep. Shuler sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asking that she examine the authority under which the Architect’s office had implemented the policy disallowing religious language.

The policy change was announced by Stephen T. Ayers, the Acting Architect of the Capitol.

“I am extremely pleased that we have been able to end this restriction on right of my constituents to openly practice their faith,” said Rep. Shuler. “I applaud Mr. Ayers for listening to the wishes of the American people and their elected representatives and revising the flag certificate policy so quickly.”

When announcing the change the Architect’s Office noted that, “the policy disallowing political and religious statements on flag certificates has been in place for several years, significantly predating Mr. Ayers’ assuming the role of Acting Architect in February, 2007. Specifically, the guidelines that govern the flag flying operation were developed and issued in 2003.”

The old rules stated that, “personalized dedications are permitted, but limited to three hundred characters. Please keep in mind, political and/or religious expressions are not permitted on the flag certificate.”

The rules now state, “personalized dedications are permitted, but limited to three hundred characters.”