I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 312 
To authorize the presentation of flags at the funerals of civilian Federal 
employees engaged in the support of military operations who have died 
in combat zones in the course of their duties. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 5, 2007 
Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Mr. NORWOOD, and Ms. BORDALLO) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform 
A BILL 
To authorize the presentation of flags at the funerals of 
civilian Federal employees engaged in the support of 
military operations who have died in combat zones in 
the course of their duties. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Civilian Service Rec-
ognition Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Many Americans are unaware that there are 
thousands of civilian Federal employees serving the 
Nation in the dangerous theaters of war in both Iraq 
and Afghanistan, and elsewhere, in the Global War 
on Terror. 
(2) These employees voluntarily risk their lives 
to serve the Nation overseas and support the cause 
of freedom. 
(3) The patriotism of these employees does not 
begin or end in a uniform, but flows from the shin-
ing example of many of the Nation’s founding fa-
thers, who, while not serving in the military, sac-
rificed everything for the sake of liberty. 
(4) In light of the new and unconventional war-
fare that characterizes the Global War on Terror, it 
is no surprise that thousands of these employees en-
dure danger and injury, and tragically death, while 
serving beside the Nation’s troops. 
(5) These brave employees serve the Nation 
openly and clandestinely, contributing to the cause 
of freedom and democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan 
and preserving the security of the United States. 
(6) The dedication and service of these employ-
ees exemplify the giving nature of the United States, 
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as well as the resolve of the Nation, to spread de-
mocracy, freedom, and peace throughout the world. 
(7) These valiant employees, who have lived and 
died beside the Nation’s troops in war zones in the 
support of freedom, should be honored with a pres-
entation of a flag from a Nation grateful for their 
service. 
SEC. 3. FLAG CEREMONY FOR CIVILIAN FEDERAL EMPLOY-
EES WHO DIE IN COMBAT ZONES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the requirements of 
this section, the head of an executive agency shall furnish, 
upon receipt of a request under subsection (b), a flag of 
the United States to drape the casket of an individual 
who— 
(1) was an employee of the agency engaged in 
the performance of one or more functions in support 
of military operations; 
(2) was located or stationed in a combat zone 
while so engaged in the course of the individual’s 
employment; and 
(3) died while physically present in the combat 
zone during the period in which the individual was 
so engaged. 
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(b) REQUEST FOR FLAGS.—The head of an executive 
agency shall furnish a flag for a deceased individual under 
subsection (a) upon the request of— 
(1) the deceased individual’s next of kin; or 
(2) a close friend or associate of the deceased 
individual if no request is made for the flag by the 
next of kin. 
(c) PRESENTATION OF FLAG.—After the burial of an 
individual described in subsection (a), the head of an exec-
utive agency shall present a flag furnished under sub-
section (a) to an individual making a request under sub-
section (b). 
(d) MANNER OF CEREMONY.—A flag shall be fur-
nished and presented under this section in the same man-
ner as a flag furnished and presented on behalf of a mem-
ber of the Armed Services dying in active duty. 
(e) LIMITATION ON FLAGS PROVIDED.—If a flag fur-
nished under subsection (a) is given to an individual de-
scribed in subsection (b)(2), no flag shall be given to any 
other person on account of the death of such individual. 
(f) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—The head of an ex-
ecutive agency may disclose information necessary to show 
that the deceased individual is an individual described in 
subsection (a) to the extent that such information is not 
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classified and to the extent that such disclosure does not 
endanger the national security of the United States. 
SEC. 4. EMPLOYEE NOTIFICATION OF FLAG CEREMONY 
BENEFIT. 
The head of an executive agency shall notify employ-
ees of the agency who are located or stationed in a combat 
zone for purposes of the performance of one or more func-
tions in support of military operations of the flag cere-
mony benefit provided for under section 3. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) COMBAT ZONE.—The term ‘‘combat zone’’ 
means an area in which a member of the uniformed 
service on duty in such area may qualify for special 
pay under section 310 of title 37, United States 
Code. 
(2) EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘‘employee’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 2105 of title 5, 
United States Code, and includes employees of and 
donors of volunteer services to temporary organiza-
tions under section 3161 of such title. 
(3) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘executive 
agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Executive 
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agency’’ in section 501 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
Æ 
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