The "One Flag for All Act" would generally require only the U.S. flag to be displayed on the exterior and in public areas of federal buildings, with specific exceptions for POW/MIA flags, flags of visiting dignitaries, state flags of members of congress, armed forces flags, flags of historical significance, public safety flags, flags commemorating national observances, flags representing religious organizations during religious events at military facilities, flags representing a Federal agency, flags representing an Indian Tribe, and flags representing the State, territory, county, city, or local jurisdiction where the public building is located.
Diana Harshbarger
Representative
TN-1
The "One Flag for All Act" generally prohibits the display of flags other than the U.S. flag on the exterior or in public areas of covered federal buildings. There are explicit exceptions for flags such as POW/MIA flags, state flags displayed at a Member of Congress's office, flags representing the Armed Forces, flags of historical significance, and flags representing local jurisdictions where the building is located. The bill defines "covered public buildings" broadly, including federal buildings, Senate and House buildings, military installations, and U.S. embassies and consulates.
One Flag to Rule Them All? New Bill Limits Flag Displays on Public Buildings
The "One Flag for All Act" is pretty much what it sounds like. This bill says that, with a few exceptions, only the American flag can be flown on the exterior or in public areas of "covered public buildings." Think federal offices, military bases (as defined in section 2801 of title 10), embassies, and even the buildings housing Congress itself (section 3301(a) of title 40, United States Code, for those keeping score at home). The bill's stated goal is simple: promote national unity through a single, unifying symbol.
What Flags Get a Pass?
So, what can fly alongside Old Glory? Section 2 of the bill lays out a list of exceptions. We're talking POW/MIA flags, flags of visiting diplomats, and the state flags of Members of Congress (but only at their offices). Military flags are in, as are flags with historical significance to the U.S. (think Betsy Ross, not your quirky neighborhood banner). Flags representing public safety, national observances (like 9/11 memorials), Federal agencies, and Indian Tribes also make the cut. Even local government flags (state, county, city) where the building is located are allowed. Religious organizations get a nod, too, but only during religious events at military facilities, and they need to be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit.
Real-World Ripples
Imagine a local veteran's group wanting to display a commemorative flag at a federal building – they'd be out of luck unless it falls under one of the specific exceptions. Or consider a city hall that traditionally flies a flag representing a local cultural group; that would be a no-go under this bill. While the bill allows for a range of historical and governmental flags, it notably restricts displays of potentially any other flags. This could make things tricky.
The Bigger Picture
This bill is walking a tightrope. On one hand, there's the idea of promoting unity. On the other hand, there is a restriction of expression. The "One Flag for All Act" tries to balance respect for the American flag with recognizing other significant symbols, but where that balance ultimately lands is something to watch closely. The definitions of "historical significance" and the list of exceptions will be key in how this all plays out in practice, and who gets to decide what meets the criteria.