II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 769 

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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2023 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. GRAHAM) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

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. 

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.— 


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•S 769 IS

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

2 States Code, is amended— 

3 (A) by redesignating the second section 

4 146 (relating to Choose Respect Day) as section 

5 147; and 

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

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

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

9 Wrongful Detainee Day. 

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

11 issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of 

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

13 Detainee Day with appropriate ceremonies and activi14 ties.’’. 

15 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND16 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 

17 36, United States Code, is amended by striking the 

18 item relating to the second section 146 and inserting 

19 the following new items: 

‘‘147. Choose Respect Day. 

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

20 (b) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE FLAG.— 

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

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

23 following new section: 


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•S 769 IS

1 ‘‘§ 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag 

2 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Hostage and Wrongful De3 tainee flag championed by the Bring Our Families Home 

4 Campaign is designated as the symbol of the commitment 

5 of the United States to recognizing, and prioritizing the 

6 freedom of, citizens and lawful permanent residents of the 

7 United States held as hostages or wrongfully detained 

8 abroad. 

9 ‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISPLAY.— 

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

11 Detainee flag shall be displayed at the locations 

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

13 paragraph (2). 

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

15 this paragraph are the following: 

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

17 Day, March 9. 

18 ‘‘(B) Flag Day, June 14. 

19 ‘‘(C) Independence Day, July 4. 

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

21 permanent resident of the United States— 

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

23 being held hostage or wrongfully detained 

24 abroad; or 

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

26 wrongfully detained abroad. 


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•S 769 IS

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

2 specified in this paragraph are the following: 

3 ‘‘(A) The Capitol. 

4 ‘‘(B) The White House. 

5 ‘‘(C) The buildings containing the official 

6 office of— 

7 ‘‘(i) the Secretary of State; and 

8 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Defense. 

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

10 PUBLIC.—Display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 

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

12 to ensure visibility to the public. 

13 ‘‘(d) LIMITATION.—This section may not be con14 strued or applied so as to require any employee to report 

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

16 of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.’’. 

17 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND18 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 9 of title 

19 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at 

20 the end the following: 

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

Æ 


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