[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7183 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7183
To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Freedom Flag as
an official symbol of the United States to honor and remember the
victims and emergency responders who died on September 11, 2001, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2020
Ms. Spanberger (for herself, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Cline, Mr.
Beyer, Mr. Griffith, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Riggleman, Ms. Wexton, Mr.
Wittman, Mrs. Luria, Mr. McEachin, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Zeldin,
Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Rose of
New York, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Katko, Mr. Espaillat, Mr.
Brindisi, Mr. Malinowski, Mr. Payne, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Ms. Dean, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the Freedom Flag as
an official symbol of the United States to honor and remember the
victims and emergency responders who died on 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 Nine-Eleven Victims and
Emergency Responders Flag Of Remembrance, Gratitude, and Education for
Tomorrow Act'' or the ``National NEVER FORGET Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists launched an attack on
the United States that resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000
United States citizens.
(2) Richard N. Melito designed a flag known as the
``Freedom Flag'' on September 20, 2001, to memorialize and
commemorate--
(A) the victims and emergency responders of such
attack;
(B) the events surrounding such attack; and
(C) the sense of national unity and patriotism that
followed the attack.
(3) The meaning of the Freedom Flag is illustrated by the
colors and symbols of the flag, including--
(A) an old glory blue background that represents
the people of the United States uniting together for
freedom;
(B) a white star that represents all individuals
who have lived and died for the freedom of the people
of the United States;
(C) five white bars that represent the Pentagon and
the organized protection of the freedom of the United
States;
(D) a top old glory red stripe that represents the
bloodshed of the individuals who perished at the
Pentagon and the crew and passengers on American
Airlines Flight 77;
(E) two broad old glory red stripes that represent
the twin towers of the World Trade Center in the city
of New York and the bloodshed of the individuals who
died there, on American Airlines Flight 11, and on
United Airlines Flight 175;
(F) a bottom old glory red stripe that represents
the bloodshed of the crew and passengers who perished
on United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania; and
(G) three white stripes that represent the rescue
workers, firefighters, police officers, port authority
employees, and other individuals who worked tirelessly
during and after the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001.
(4) On October 25, 2001, a flag maker sewed the first
Freedom Flag with the design of Mr. Melito and unveiled the
flag on December 16, 2001.
(5) The Virginia Historical Society adopted the Freedom
Flag on November 12, 2001, for display during a memorial
exhibit commemorating the September 11, 2001, attack on the
Pentagon.
(6) In May 2002, Mr. Melito established a nonprofit
organization known as the ``Freedom Flag Foundation'' to
facilitate the distribution of the Freedom Flag to help educate
children about the terrorist attacks and to foster the
establishment of a national symbol of remembrance.
(7) On March 30, 2018, the Commonwealth of Virginia
designated the Freedom Flag as an official emblem of Virginia.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF FREEDOM FLAG HONORING AND REMEMBERING THOSE WHO
DIED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
(a) Designation.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 904. Designation of Freedom Flag
``(a) Designation.--The flag known as the `Freedom Flag' designed
by Richard N. Melito is designated as the symbol of the commitment of
the United States to honoring and remembering the victims and emergency
responders who died as a result of the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001.
``(b) Required Display.--The Freedom Flag shall be displayed each
year on Patriot Day, September 11, and, thereafter, each day 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;
``(6) each medical center of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; and
``(7) each United States Postal Service post office.
``(c) Display Visible to the Public.--The Freedom Flag shall be
displayed pursuant to subsection (b) in a manner designed to ensure
visibility to the public.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new item:
``904. Designation of Freedom Flag.''.
<all>