I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1522 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to request the President to issue 

an annual proclamation designating Hostage and Wrongful Detainee 

Day, 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, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 9, 2023 

Ms. STEVENS (for herself and Mr. HILL) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in 

addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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 

A BILL 

To amend title 36, United States Code, to request the President to issue an annual proclamation designating Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, 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, and for other purposes. 

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


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•HR 1522 IH

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hostage and Wrongful 

3 Detainee Day Act of 2023’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION. 

5 (a) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY.— 

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

7 States Code, is amended— 

8 (A) by redesignating the second section 

9 146 (relating to Choose Respect Day) as section 

10 147; and 

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

12 ‘‘§ 148. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day 

13 ‘‘The President is requested to issue each year a 

14 proclamation— 

15 ‘‘(1) designating a day as Hostage and Wrong16 ful Detainee Day; and 

17 ‘‘(2) calling on the people of the United States 

18 to observe Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day with 

19 appropriate ceremonies and activities.’’. 

20 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND21 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 1 of title 

22 36, United States Code, is amended by striking the 

23 item relating to the second section 146 and inserting 

24 the following: 

‘‘147. Choose Respect Day. 

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


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•HR 1522 IH

1 (b) HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE FLAG.— 

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

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

4 following: 

5 ‘‘§ 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Flag 

6 ‘‘(a) DESIGNATION.—The Hostage and Wrongful De7 tainee Flag championed by the Bring Our Families Home 

8 Campaign is designated as the symbol of the commitment 

9 of the United States to recognizing citizens of the United 

10 States held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad. 

11 ‘‘(b) REQUIRED DISPLAY.— 

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

13 Detainee Flag shall be displayed at the locations 

14 specified in paragraph (2) on the days specified in 

15 paragraph (3). 

16 ‘‘(2) LOCATIONS SPECIFIED.—The locations 

17 specified in this paragraph are the following: 

18 ‘‘(A) The Capitol. 

19 ‘‘(B) The White House. 

20 ‘‘(C) The buildings containing the official 

21 office of— 

22 ‘‘(i) the Secretary of State; and 

23 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Defense. 

24 ‘‘(3) DAYS SPECIFIED.—The days specified in 

25 this paragraph are the following: 


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•HR 1522 IH

1 ‘‘(A) Flag Day, June 14. 

2 ‘‘(B) Independence Day, July 4. 

3 ‘‘(C) Any other day on which a citizen or 

4 lawful permanent resident of the United 

5 States— 

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

7 being held hostage or wrongfully detained 

8 abroad; or 

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

10 wrongfully detained abroad. 

11 ‘‘(4) DISPLAY TO BE IN A MANNER VISIBLE TO

12 THE PUBLIC.—Display of the Hostage and Wrongful 

13 Detainee Flag pursuant to this section shall be in a 

14 manner designed to ensure visibility to the public. 

15 ‘‘(5) LIMITATION.—This section may not be 

16 construed or applied so as to require any employee 

17 to report to work solely for the purpose of providing 

18 for the display of the Hostage and Wrongful De19 tainee Flag.’’. 

20 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND21 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 9 of title 

22 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at 

23 the end the following: 

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

Æ 


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