118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 769 

AN ACT 

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. 
2 

†S 769 ES

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘U.S. Hostage and 

5 Wrongful Detainee Day Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION. 

7 (a) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 36, United 

9 States Code, is amended— 

10 (A) by redesignating the second section 

11 146 (relating to Choose Respect Day) as section 

12 147; and 

13 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘§ 148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day 

15 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—March 9 is U.S. Hostage and 

16 Wrongful Detainee Day. 

17 ‘‘(b) PROCLAMATION.—The President is requested to 

18 issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of 

19 the United States to observe U.S. Hostage and Wrongful 

20 Detainee Day with appropriate ceremonies and activi21 ties.’’. 

22 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND23 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 

24 36, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
3 

†S 769 ES

1 item relating to the second section 146 and inserting 

2 the following new items: 

‘‘147. Choose Respect Day. 

‘‘148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.’’. 

3 (b) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE FLAG.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 36, United 

5 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

6 following new section: 

7 ‘‘§ 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 

8 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Hostage and Wrongful De9 tainee flag championed by the Bring Our Families Home 

10 Campaign is designated as the symbol of the commitment 

11 of the United States to recognizing, and prioritizing the 

12 freedom of, citizens and lawful permanent residents of the 

13 United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained 

14 abroad. 

15 ‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISPLAY.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Hostage and Wrongful 

17 Detainee flag shall be displayed at the locations 

18 specified in paragraph (3) on the days specified in 

19 paragraph (2). 

20 ‘‘(2) DAYS SPECIFIED.—The days specified in 

21 this paragraph are the following: 

22 ‘‘(A) U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 

23 Day, March 9. 

24 ‘‘(B) Flag Day, June 14. 
4 

†S 769 ES

1 ‘‘(C) Independence Day, July 4. 

2 ‘‘(D) Any day on which a citizen or lawful 

3 permanent resident of the United States— 

4 ‘‘(i) returns to the United States from 

5 being held hostage or wrongfully detained 

6 abroad; or 

7 ‘‘(ii) dies while being held hostage or 

8 wrongfully detained abroad. 

9 ‘‘(3) LOCATIONS SPECIFIED.—The locations 

10 specified in this paragraph are the following: 

11 ‘‘(A) The Capitol. 

12 ‘‘(B) The White House. 

13 ‘‘(C) The buildings containing the official 

14 office of— 

15 ‘‘(i) the Secretary of State; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Defense. 

17 ‘‘(c) DISPLAY TO BE IN A MANNER VISIBLE TO THE

18 PUBLIC.—Display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 

19 flag pursuant to this section shall be in a manner designed 

20 to ensure visibility to the public. 

21 ‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—This section may not be con22 strued or applied so as to require any employee to report 

23 to work solely for the purpose of providing for the display 

24 of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.’’. 
5 

†S 769 ES

1 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND2 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 9 of title 

3 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at 

4 the end the following: 

‘‘904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.’’. 

Passed the Senate May 31 (legislative day, May 30), 

2023. 

Attest: 

Secretary. 
118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 769 

AN ACT 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to deshostages or wrongfully detained abroad. recognize citizens of the United States held as Wrongful Detainee flag as an official symbol to Detainee Day and to designate the Hostage and ignate March 9 as U.S. Hostage and Wrongful