To amend title 4, United States Code, to permit the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

Bill Number

H.R. 4013

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-06-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-07-18T15:47:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill (H.R. 4013) aims to update federal law to include the Mayor of the District of Columbia (D.C.) among the officials whose death would allow the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff as a sign of mourning and respect. Half-staff refers to lowering the flag to midway down the flagpole.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 7(m) of Title 4, United States Code, which governs when and where the U.S. flag is displayed at half-staff.
• Specifically modifies two sentences in the section:
• Adds "the Mayor of the District of Columbia" to the list of officials (such as members of the federal executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and governors of states, territories, or possessions) whose deaths trigger the half-staff protocol.
• Ensures the language consistently includes the D.C. Mayor alongside these other officials.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Prior to this amendment, Section 7(m) recognized deaths of high-level federal officials and governors but did not explicitly include the D.C. Mayor, reflecting D.C.'s status as a federal district rather than a state.
• The change inserts the D.C. Mayor into the existing text without altering the protocol for other officials, making the law more inclusive of D.C. leadership.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Federal agencies responsible for flag display (e.g., on federal buildings, military bases, and naval vessels) would now follow the half-staff protocol for the D.C. Mayor's death, standardizing mourning procedures.
• On citizens: Provides symbolic recognition and honor for the D.C. Mayor, potentially fostering a sense of equality for D.C. residents who lack full statehood representation; no direct practical effects on daily life.
• On international relations: Negligible impact, as this is a domestic protocol with no bearing on foreign policy or diplomacy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. federal government: Agencies handling flag etiquette and protocol, such as the Department of Defense and General Services Administration.
• District of Columbia government: The Mayor's office and D.C. residents, who gain formal acknowledgment in national mourning traditions.
• Congress: The bill was introduced by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Clarifies and expands federal flag code (Title 4 USC) to address D.C.'s unique non-state status under the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8), where Congress oversees the district; no challenges to constitutionality anticipated.
• Constitutional: Highlights ongoing debates about D.C.'s limited self-governance, as it lacks voting representation in Congress, but the bill is a minor procedural adjustment rather than a structural change.
• Political: Represents a bipartisan gesture of respect for D.C. leadership (though introduced by a Democrat); could subtly support broader discussions on D.C. statehood or enhanced autonomy without enacting major reforms.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-06-13: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-06-13: Introduced in House
• 2025-06-13: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E575)
• 2025-06-13: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• To amend title 4, United States Code, to permit the flag of the United States to be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. — issued 2025-06-13 — PDF (2 pages)