S.Amdt. 475

SA 475. Mr. COONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in subtitle G of title X, insert
the following:

[[Page S2627]]

SEC. ___. U.S. HOSTAGE AND WRONGFUL DETAINEE DAY ACT OF 2023.

(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``U.S.
Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act of 2023''.
(b) Designation.--
(1) Hostage and wrongful detainee day.--
(A) In general.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code,
is amended--
(i) by redesignating the second section 146 (relating to
Choose Respect Day) as section 147; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:

``Sec. 148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day

``(a) Designation.--March 9 is U.S. Hostage and Wrongful
Detainee Day.
``(b) Proclamation.--The President is requested to issue
each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United
States to observe U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.''.
(B) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by striking the item relating to the second section
146 and inserting the following new items:

``147. Choose Respect Day.
``148. U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day.''.
(2) Hostage and wrongful detainee flag.--
(A) In general.--Chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code,
is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``Sec. 904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag

``(a) Designation.--The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
championed by the Bring Our Families Home Campaign is
designated as the symbol of the commitment of the United
States to recognizing, and prioritizing the freedom of,
citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States
held as hostages or wrongfully detained abroad.
``(b) Required Display.--
``(1) In general.--The Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag
shall be displayed at the locations specified in paragraph
(3) on the days specified in paragraph (2).
``(2) Days specified.--The days specified in this paragraph
are the following:
``(A) U.S. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day, March 9.
``(B) Flag Day, June 14.
``(C) Independence Day, July 4.
``(D) Any day on which a citizen or lawful permanent
resident of the United States--
``(i) returns to the United States from being held hostage
or wrongfully detained abroad; or
``(ii) dies while being held hostage or wrongfully detained
abroad.
``(3) Locations specified.--The locations specified in this
paragraph are the following:
``(A) The Capitol.
``(B) The White House.
``(C) The buildings containing the official office of--
``(i) the Secretary of State; and
``(ii) the Secretary of Defense.
``(c) Display To Be in a Manner Visible to the Public.--
Display of the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag pursuant to
this section shall be in a manner designed to ensure
visibility to the public.
``(d) Limitation.--This section may not be construed or
applied so as to require any employee to report to work
solely for the purpose of providing for the display of the
Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.''.
(B) Technical and conforming amendment.--The table of
sections for chapter 9 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:

``904. Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.''.
______