To designate the National Memorial Day Parade, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4845
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-11T18:50:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill officially designates the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC, as the "National Memorial Day Parade" to recognize America's fallen heroes. It also authorizes limited support from the Department of Defense for the event.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Congress recognizes the parade's history, noting it began in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall, was revived in 2004 by the American Veterans Center, and has grown into the largest Memorial Day event in the United States with hundreds of thousands of participants, spectators, and national/international broadcasts.
- The parade is designated as the National Memorial Day Parade.
- The Secretary of Defense may provide appropriate support, including the use of active and reserve military units and federal funds for small arms and munitions used in ceremonial honors.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced The bill creates a formal congressional designation for this specific parade. It adds new authority for the Secretary of Defense to supply military personnel and limited resources for the event, which was not previously established in statute for this purpose.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Allows the Department of Defense to contribute troops and ceremonial resources, potentially involving coordination between military components and event organizers.
- Citizens: Increases public awareness of Memorial Day through an expanded, officially recognized national event with historical reenactments and performances.
- International relations: Supports continued worldwide broadcast on the American Forces Network, reaching U.S. military personnel overseas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The American Veterans Center (current organizer of the parade).
- Veterans, active-duty service members, and reserve components.
- The Department of Defense and Congress.
- Spectators and viewers across the United States and abroad.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The designation is primarily symbolic and does not alter broader laws on military parades or veterans' benefits. The provision for Department of Defense support raises limited questions about the use of federal resources for a civilian-led event, though it is restricted to ceremonial purposes. No major constitutional issues are addressed in the bill itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-01: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-01: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To designate the National Memorial Day Parade, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-08-01 — PDF (3 pages)