H.R. 3999119th CongressIntroduced Jun 12, 2025

American Flags to Honor Our Veterans Act of 2025

IntroducedArmed Forces and National SecurityNarrow

Sponsor: Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Committees: Judiciary Committee (primary)
Last action: Jun 12, 2025

Bottom line

The "American Flags to Honor Our Veterans Act of 2025" provides explicit legal authorization for U.S. flags to be displayed in an upright position at the grave sites of deceased service members and veterans.

What it actually does

This bill amends Title 4 of the U.S. Code, which governs the flag of the United States, to explicitly permit the display of the flag in a secured, upright position directly adjacent to the grave sites of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. This clarification ensures that a common practice of honoring fallen service members and veterans with flags at their grave sites is explicitly authorized under federal law.

Section 2, new subsection (h) of title 4, United States Code

Authorization for Upright Display of Flags at Veteran Grave Sites

prominently featuredstraightforward

This section adds a new subsection (h) to Section 6 of Title 4 of the United States Code, which outlines rules for flag display. The new subsection explicitly states that, notwithstanding any other provision in that section, the flag may be displayed in a secured, upright position directly adjacent to the grave site of a deceased member of the Armed Forces or a veteran. This provision provides clear legal backing for a practice often observed in cemeteries, ensuring it complies with federal flag regulations.

FOUND

The provision defines "deceased member of the Armed Forces" by reference to section 101 of title 10, and "veteran" by reference to section 101 of title 38.

Section 2, new subsection (h) of title 4, United States Code

Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to avoid redundancy and ensure consistency with existing legal definitions across federal law. It is not an attempt to be evasive.

Case for: Using existing statutory definitions ensures consistency across federal law and avoids creating conflicting interpretations of who qualifies as a "member of the Armed Forces" or "veteran" for the purpose of this bill, streamlining legal application.

Case against: A casual reader might not immediately know the precise definitions without looking up the referenced titles, potentially leading to a less immediate and complete understanding of the bill's exact scope. However, this is a minor point given the common understanding of these terms.

Estimated impact: Clarifies the scope of individuals whose grave sites are covered by this flag display authorization, ensuring it aligns with established federal definitions of military service.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.

H.R. 3999119th CongressIntroduced Jun 12, 2025

American Flags to Honor Our Veterans Act of 2025

IntroducedArmed Forces and National SecurityNarrow

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1]
Committees: Judiciary Committee (primary)
Last action: Jun 12, 2025

Bottom line

What it actually does

Section 2, new subsection (h) of title 4, United States Code

Authorization for Upright Display of Flags at Veteran Grave Sites

prominently featuredstraightforward

FOUND

The provision defines "deceased member of the Armed Forces" by reference to section 101 of title 10, and "veteran" by reference to section 101 of title 38.

Section 2, new subsection (h) of title 4, United States Code

Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to avoid redundancy and ensure consistency with existing legal definitions across federal law. It is not an attempt to be evasive.

Estimated impact: Clarifies the scope of individuals whose grave sites are covered by this flag display authorization, ensuring it aligns with established federal definitions of military service.