National Patriot Day Remembrance Flag Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9522 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9522

To designate the Freedom Flag as the national symbol of remembrance for
              September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2026

 Mr. McGuire (for himself and Mr. Garbarino) introduced the following
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To designate the Freedom Flag as the national symbol of remembrance for
              September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

    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 ``National Patriot Day Remembrance
Flag Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) September 11, 2001, will forever be one of the darkest
        days in the history of the United States.
            (2) Nearly 3,000 people, including citizens of over 90
        nations, died as a direct result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks
        at the World Trade Center in New York, New York, the Pentagon
        in Arlington County, Virginia, and in Somerset County,
        Pennsylvania.
            (3) The first responders who served heroically at Ground
        Zero in the City of New York paid a heavy toll, with over 400
        fire, police, and rescue members making the ultimate sacrifice.
            (4) The Freedom Flag was designed by a Virginian on
        September 20, 2001, to foster the establishment of a national
        symbol of remembrance that honors and remembers the victims,
        heroic first responders, and all who were affected by the
        events of September 11, 2001.
            (5) The meaning of the Freedom Flag is illustrated by the
        colors and symbols of the flag, which are--
                    (A) an ``Old Glory'' blue background symbolizing
                all Americans united together for freedom;
                    (B) one white star symbolizing all who live and
                died for freedom;
                    (C) five white bars symbolizing the Pentagon and
                the organized protection of our freedom;
                    (D) one top ``Old Glory'' red stripe symbolizing
                the bloodshed of the people who perished at the
                Pentagon and the crew and passengers killed on American
                Airlines Flight 77;
                    (E) two broad ``Old Glory'' red stripes symbolizing
                the Twin Towers and the bloodshed of the people who
                perished at the World Trade Center and on American
                Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175;
                    (F) one bottom ``Old Glory'' red stripe symbolizing
                the bloodshed of the crew and passengers who perished
                on United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania; and
                    (G) three white stripes symbolizing the rescue
                workers, firefighters, police officers, Port Authority
                employees, and others who worked tirelessly during and
                after the terrorist attacks.
            (6) On October 25, 2001, a flag maker sewed the first
        Freedom Flag and unveiled the flag on December 16, 2001.
            (7) On November 12, 2001, the Freedom Flag was officially
        adopted by the Virginia Historical Society as part of a special
        exhibition in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution to
        commemorate the events of 9/11.
            (8) The design of the 9/11 Remembrance Flag adheres to the
        five principles of ``Good Flag Design'' defined by the North
        American Vexillological Association.
            (9) In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly voted
        unanimously to add the 9/11 Remembrance Flag to the Code of
        Virginia as Virginia's official flag of remembrance of the
        events of September 11, 2001, making it our nation's first
        codified 9/11 remembrance flag when it was signed into law on
        March 30, 2018.
            (10) The 9/11 Remembrance Flag has also been adopted by the
        legislatures of Oklahoma (May 16, 2022) and Delaware (Sept. 8,
        2022), and has flown or been displayed on 9/11 and for Patriot
        Day lessons in all 50 states, including at thousands of
        schools, fire/rescue stations, police stations, and civic
        institutions.
            (11) Over 7,000 members of the Armed Forces of the United
        States have made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on
        Terrorism since September 11, 2001.
            (12) The aftermath of 9/11 cleanup activities continues to
        take a toll on first responders, including over 3,000 who have
        perished due to 9/11-related illness since the attacks.
            (13) The symbols of the Freedom Flag serve as a meaningful
        educational tool and a unifying emblem of patriotism and
        remembrance.
            (14) Nearly 100,000,000 Americans have been born since
        September 11, 2001, or were too young to remember the events
        that occurred on that day.
            (15) The Freedom Flag memorializes the courageous and
        ongoing response of all Americans to threats against our
        freedom.
            (16) The Freedom Flag is a symbol of our Nation's concern
        and commitment to remembering all of the lives lost as a result
        of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

SEC. 3. FREEDOM FLAG.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 905. Freedom Flag
    ``(a) In General.--The Freedom Flag is designated as the national
symbol of remembrance for September 11, 2001, and to support
educational efforts of teaching future generations about the tragic
events and many lives lost on such date, including programming through
the 9/11 Memorial Museum and the Pentagon Memorial Foundation.
    ``(b) Required Display.--The Freedom Flag shall be displayed each
year on Patriot Day, from September 11 through the end of September
at--
            ``(1) the Capitol;
            ``(2) the White House;
            ``(3) each national cemetery;
            ``(4) each major military installation, as designated by
        the Secretary of Defense;
            ``(5) the building containing the official office of--
                    ``(A) the Secretary of State;
                    ``(B) the Secretary of Defense; and
                    ``(C) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
            ``(6) each United States Postal Service post office.
    ``(c) Display Visible to Public.--The Freedom Flag shall be
displayed pursuant to subsection (b) in a manner designed to ensure
visibility to the public.
    ``(d) Order of Precedence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Freedom Flag shall follow the POW/MIA Flag in any order of
precedence.
    ``(e) Flag Materials.--The disposal and retirement of the Freedom
Flag shall comply with Veterans Affairs retirement and flag disposal
practices.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 9 of title 36,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``905. Freedom Flag.''.
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