HR1313-119

What This Bill Does

The One Flag for All Act creates a flag-display restriction for covered public buildings. No flag other than the U.S. flag may be flown, draped, or displayed on the exterior of a covered public building or in a fully public interior area such as an entryway or hallway. The bill includes numerous exceptions: POW/MIA, Hostage and Wrongful Detainee, visiting diplomat national flags, congressional member state flags, Armed Forces unit or branch flags, historically significant U.S. flags such as the Betsy Ross, Gadsden, and Bennington flags, public safety flags, national observance flags such as 9/11 Memorial and Remembrance Day flags, religious-organization flags in military liturgies or ceremonies, federal agency flags, Tribal flags, and state, territory, county, city, or local jurisdiction flags. Covered public buildings include congressional buildings, military installations, embassies, consulates, and other public buildings.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. flag prioritization advocates benefit because the bill makes the U.S. flag the default display on covered public buildings. Veterans and military families benefit from explicit exceptions for POW/MIA, Armed Forces, and public safety flags. Tribal governments benefit because Tribal flags remain allowed in covered public buildings. State and local governments benefit because their jurisdictional flags remain exempt.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal facility managers must remove or deny non-exempt flags from exteriors and public interior areas. Advocacy groups whose flags are not listed in the exceptions lose display opportunities in covered public buildings. Embassy and consulate staff must manage flag displays within the diplomatic and public-building exceptions. Architect of the Capitol and military installation administrators must apply the exception list in public spaces.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits non-U.S. flags on exteriors and fully public interior areas of covered public buildings.
• Provides exceptions for POW/MIA, hostage, diplomatic, state, Armed Forces, historical, public safety, observance, religious, agency, Tribal, and local flags.
• Includes congressional buildings, military installations, embassies, consulates, and other public buildings.
• Restricts flag displays through property-management rules rather than criminal penalties.