October 22, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 167 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H8354-H8355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       NATIONAL POW/MIA FLAG ACT

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 693) to amend title 36, United States Code, to require that the 
POW/MIA flag be displayed on all days that the flag of the United 
States is displayed on certain Federal property.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 693

       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 POW/MIA Flag Act''.

     SEC. 2. DAYS ON WHICH THE POW/MIA FLAG IS DISPLAYED ON 
                   CERTAIN FEDERAL PROPERTY.

       Section 902 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Days for Flag Display.--For the purposes of this 
     section, POW/MIA flag display days are all days on which the 
     flag of the United States is displayed.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 693, the National POW/MIA Flag 
Act. This bill would effectively require that the National League of 
Families POW/MIA flag be flown every day at certain specified 
locations.
  Under current law, the flag must be displayed on six designated days: 
Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National 
POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. In addition, the flag must 
be flown at the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Veterans Affairs medical centers, and post 
offices on every day the United States flag is displayed.
  Current law requires that the POW/MIA flag be displayed on these 
designated days at the Capitol; the White House; the World War II, 
Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials; each national 
cemetery; the buildings containing offices of the Secretaries of State, 
Defense, and Veterans Affairs, and the Director of the Selective 
Service System; each major military installation; each Veterans Affairs 
medical center; and each post office.
  This bill simply strikes the provision designating days for display 
of the POW/MIA flag from current law and replaces it with the mandate 
that the POW/MIA flag be flown on all days on which the United States 
flag is displayed.
  Enacting this bill into law would be an appropriate tribute to all 
those who have served our Nation in uniform, and especially those who 
made the sacrifice of being held prisoner by our Nation's enemies in 
wartime and for those who remain missing as a result of hostile action.
  The POW/MIA flag not only reminds every American of these 
individuals' sacrifices, but also acts as a symbol of the Nation's 
commitment to achieve, as the statute says, ``the fullest possible 
accounting of Americans who, having been prisoners of war or missing in 
action, still remain unaccounted for.''
  I will look at this flag in future years and think of Sam Johnson, a 
great Member of this House, and John McCain, a great American, an 
honest American, and a great leader.
  I applaud Senator Elizabeth Warren for introducing this bill which 
passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
  I also congratulate Representative Chris Pappas, who introduced an 
identical bill in the House and has worked tirelessly to shepherd this 
legislation through House passage. I thank him for his hard work and 
leadership on this meaningful measure that recognizes these heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the House to pass this bill and the President to 
sign it into law, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for his leadership 
on this issue. I also want to thank Congressman Pappas for his 
introduction of an identical bill in the House.
  Many Americans may not be aware that more than 82,000 Americans are 
listed as prisoners of war, missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted 
for as a result of engagement in military conflicts. Displaying the 
POW/MIA flag alongside the American flag invites everyone to reflect on 
that somber number and appreciate the sacrifices people have made for 
the freest country on the planet.
  S. 693 would require the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the 
American flag is displayed on Federal properties, including the U.S. 
Capitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War 
Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national 
cemetery and major military installation as designated by the Secretary 
of Defense, and every U.S. post office.
  I look forward to passage of this bipartisan bill and to seeing the 
POW/MIA flag fly along with the Stars and Stripes to remind us that 
freedom comes at a cost and we owe more than we know to the brave men 
and women who gave their lives and their liberty for their fellow 
Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), who is the author.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
thank him for his words.
  As well, I thank Mr. Cline for his words in support of this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 693, the National POW/MIA Flag 
Act.
  In May, I had the privilege of visiting America's longest running 
POW/MIA vigil, in my district, in Meredith, New Hampshire. There, on 
the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, participants have been gathering 
every Thursday evening for more than 30 years to honor and remember 
servicemembers listed as prisoners of war, missing in action, or 
otherwise unaccounted for.
  It doesn't matter if it is a night in the depths of a frigid winter 
or a sweltering summer, every vigil brings out a strong community of 
veterans, family members, and supporters who call on all of us to 
remember these heroes. Vigils like these happen all across this great 
country to ensure no servicemember's sacrifice is forgotten.
  Flying over these vigils with the Stars and Stripes is the POW/MIA 
flag. This flag was conceived in the early 1970s during the Vietnam war 
by family members who awaited the return of their loved ones. It was 
adopted by Congress ``as the symbol of our Nation's concern and 
commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans 
still prisoner, missing, and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus 
ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation.''

                              {time}  1630

  It has become an enduring national symbol of POW/MIAs from conflicts 
throughout our history.
  That is why I was proud to introduce this bipartisan companion 
legislation in the House, along with my colleague, Representative 
Bergman, which would display the POW/MIA flag alongside the American 
flag at all Federal buildings, memorials, and all national cemeteries 
throughout the year.
  Under current law, the POW/MIA flag is required to be displayed by 
the Federal Government only 6 days per year. This flag is 
representative of profound courage and sacrifice, and it is only right 
that those who served their country honorably but never returned home, 
are remembered appropriately at our Federal buildings, cemeteries, and 
memorials.
  This bipartisan legislation passed the Senate unanimously, and it is 
endorsed by Rolling Thunder; the National League of POW/MIA Families; 
the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the American Legion; the National 
Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen; 
and American Ex-Prisoners of War.

[[Page H8355]]

  It is fitting that this bill has garnered such a strong show of 
support. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation, to continue 
working with a sense of common purpose when it comes to supporting our 
servicemembers, military families, and veterans.
  Members of Congress display this flag in front of our Washington and 
district offices because we believe we must honor the more than 81,000 
servicemembers our government says are missing or unaccounted for since 
World War II.
  Let's ensure these displays happen across Federal properties 
throughout the year. Let's ensure the words emblazoned on the POW/MIA 
flag continue to communicate our support and commitment for our 
Nation's heroes and their families. You are not forgotten.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, again, I commend those who have pursued the 
introduction and passage of this important legislation. And along with 
the comments of my colleague from New Hampshire, ``they will never be 
forgotten,'' we will continue to fly the POW/MIA flag alongside the 
American flag.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline) 
said, this is a straightforward bill that rightly requires that the 
flag be flown effectively every day at certain locations at great 
significance to our country and to our Armed Forces and veterans.
  It is an appropriate way to honor all those who served, and 
particularly, those who have been held prisoners and who remain missing 
because of their service to our Nation in wartime. Therefore, I urge 
prompt passage of S. 693.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) 
for his work on the bill, and Senator Warren. I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 693.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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