[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 769 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 769

  To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate March 9 as U.S. 
  Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and to designate the Hostage and 
 Wrongful Detainee flag as an official symbol to recognize citizens of 
   the United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 9, 2023

   Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Graham) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate March 9 as U.S. 
  Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and to designate the Hostage and 
 Wrongful Detainee flag as an official symbol to recognize citizens of 
   the United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 
Day Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION.

    (a) Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, 
        is amended--
                    (A) by redesignating the second section 146 
                (relating to Choose Respect Day) as section 147; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day
    ``(a) Designation.--March 9 is U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 
Day.
    ``(b) Proclamation.--The President is requested to issue each year 
a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe 
U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day with appropriate ceremonies and 
activities.''.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
        sections for chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is 
        amended by striking the item relating to the second section 146 
        and inserting the following new items:

``147. Choose Respect Day.
``148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.''.
    (b) Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, 
        is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
    ``(a) Designation.--The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 
championed by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign is designated as the 
symbol of the commitment of the United States to recognizing, and 
prioritizing the freedom of, citizens and lawful permanent residents of 
the United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.
    ``(b) Required Display.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 
        shall be displayed at the locations specified in paragraph (3) 
        on the days specified in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Days specified.--The days specified in this paragraph 
        are the following:
                    ``(A) U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, March 
                9.
                    ``(B) Flag Day, June 14.
                    ``(C) Independence Day, July 4.
                    ``(D) Any day on which a citizen or lawful 
                permanent resident of the United States--
                            ``(i) returns to the United States from 
                        being held hostage or wrongfully detained 
                        abroad; or
                            ``(ii) dies while being held hostage or 
                        wrongfully detained abroad.
            ``(3) Locations specified.--The locations specified in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) The Capitol.
                    ``(B) The White House.
                    ``(C) The buildings containing the official office 
                of--
                            ``(i) the Secretary of State; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary of Defense.
    ``(c) Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.--Display of 
the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag pursuant to this section shall 
be in a manner designed to ensure visibility to the public.
    ``(d) Limitation.--This section may not be construed or applied so 
as to require any employee to report to work solely for the purpose of 
providing for the display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.''.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of 
        sections for chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is 
        amended by adding at the end the following:

``904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.''.
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