National Patriot Day Remembrance Flag Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9522
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T15:23:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation designates the Freedom Flag as the official national symbol of remembrance for the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It aims to honor victims, first responders, and others affected, while supporting education about the events for future generations through institutions such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Pentagon Memorial Foundation.
Key Provisions
- Adds Section 905 to Chapter 9 of Title 36 of the United States Code.
- Requires the Freedom Flag to be displayed each year on Patriot Day (September 11 through the end of September) at the Capitol, White House, national cemeteries, major military installations, the offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, and all United States Postal Service post offices.
- Mandates that displays be visible to the public.
- Establishes that the Freedom Flag follows the POW/MIA Flag in any order of precedence.
- Directs that disposal and retirement of the flag follow Veterans Affairs practices.
- Includes detailed findings describing the flag’s design elements, history, state-level adoptions, and symbolic meaning tied to the attacks at the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Flight 93 crash site.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill creates a new federal statute recognizing the Freedom Flag, which previously had no national status. It imposes mandatory display requirements at federal sites where no such obligation existed before and sets a specific order of precedence relative to the POW/MIA Flag.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the Capitol, White House, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Veterans Affairs, national cemeteries, and the Postal Service to procure, display, and maintain the flag annually.
- Citizens: Provides a standardized national symbol for remembrance and education, potentially increasing public awareness of 9/11 events, especially among the millions born after 2001.
- International relations: No direct provisions affect foreign policy or relations with other nations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal government agencies and facilities required to display the flag.
- Veterans Affairs and military installations responsible for flag handling.
- Educational and memorial organizations such as the 9/11 Memorial Museum and Pentagon Memorial Foundation.
- State and local governments that have already adopted the flag (Virginia, Oklahoma, Delaware) or may align with the new federal standard.
- First responders, survivors, and families connected to the 9/11 attacks.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation operates within Congress’s authority to designate national symbols and regulate displays on federal property. It does not alter the design or status of the United States flag and maintains the existing order of precedence for other flags. No constitutional challenges 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
Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Patriot Day Remembrance Flag Act — issued 2026-06-29 — PDF (7 pages)