Lawmakers slam Bears for supporting NFL's new national anthem policy

The controversy surrounding the national anthem has perhaps been one of the NFL’s biggest issues.

Now, a vote by owners to change the policy is putting them -- and the Chicago Bears organization -- under the spotlight.

“Once you have this kind of platform, you have to use it. You can't shy away from it,” said Sam Acho.

Bears linebacker Sam Acho is not shying away from controversy surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem, flames fanned by President Donald Trump last year saying, “Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag, say get that son of a b**** off the field. You’re fired!”

Team owners responded by implementing a new policy, leading Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly to fire a list of questions toward top brass inside the Chicago Bears.

“What made the Bears sign onto this policy?” she asked.

Penning a letter to the Bears owner and chairman, Kelly was joined by Chicago area congressional Democrats Bobby Rush, Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky, citing the First Amendment, each "disappointed the franchise voted to silence" players.

“I think the owners…need to find out why players feel so strongly about it,” Kelly said. “And what are the issues that have caused the players to do this.”

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the practice and players across the league continued it, attempting to highlight police brutality against black people. The new policy fines players who kneel, but gives them the option to stay in the locker room during the anthems performance.

Bears head coach, Matt Nagy, addressed fresh controversy over the anthem on Tuesday.

“For us, as an organization, we're in the midst, right now, of going through how we want to handle the situation and we'll have a process, and it will include everybody,” Nagy said.

Congresswoman Kelly says she has not yet heard back from anyone inside the Bears organization, but the NFL reached out to her office for a copy of the letter.

Even if she doesn't hear back, she says she hopes it starts a conversation.