Hassan-Supported POW/MIA Flag Act Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk for Signature

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House yesterday passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to honor Prisoners of War and service members Missing in Action by requiring that the POW/MIA flag be displayed alongside the American flag at certain federal buildings and memorials. The bill, which was passed unanimously in the Senate in May, now heads to the President’s desk for signature. The House version of the bill is led by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).

“We will never be able to fully express our gratitude for the selfless service of men and women in uniform and their families, and that is all the more true for Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action,” said Senator Hassan. “But one way we can honor them at the U.S. Capitol and across the country is to display the POW/MIA flag alongside the American flag at government buildings and memorials. I’m glad that Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle came together to pass this legislation and am looking forward to it being signed into law.”

Under current law, the POW/MIA Flag is required to be displayed by the federal government on certain prominent federal properties only six days per year: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Veterans Day. The National POW/MIA Flag Act will ensure that the POW/MIA Flag is displayed whenever the U.S. flag is displayed, effectively ensuring that both flags are displayed concurrently every day at federal locations already designated under existing law.

The bill is endorsed by Rolling Thunder, Inc. National; the National League of POW/MIA Families; Veterans of Foreign Wars; The American Legion; National Alliance of Families for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen; and American Ex-Prisoners of War.

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