[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           U.S. HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY ACT OF 2023

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of S. 769 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (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.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REED. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a 
third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 769) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 769

       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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