To provide Capitol-flown flags to the immediate family of fire fighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and other rescue workers who are killed in the line of duty.

February 4, 2003

Mr. KING of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

To provide Capitol-flown flags to the immediate family of fire fighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, and other rescue workers who are killed in the line of duty.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. PROVIDING CAPITOL-FLOWN FLAGS FOR FAMILIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESCUE WORKERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

(a) IN GENERAL- At the request of the immediate family of a fire fighter, law enforcement officer, emergency technician, or other rescue worker who died in the line of duty, the Representative of the family may provide the family with a Capitol-flown flag, together with the certificate described in subsection (c).

(b) NO COST TO FAMILY- A flag provided under this section shall be provided at no cost to the family.

(c) CERTIFICATE- The certificate described in this subsection is a certificate which is signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Representative providing the flag, and which contains an expression of sympathy from the House of Representatives for the family involved, as prepared and developed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(d) DEFINITIONS- In this section--

(1) the term `Capitol-flown flag' means a United States flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of the deceased individual for whom such flag is requested; and

(2) the term `Representative' includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Clerk shall issue regulations for carrying out this Act, including regulations to establish procedures (including any appropriate forms, guidelines, and accompanying certificates) for requesting a Capitol-flown flag.

(b) APPROVAL BY COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION- The regulations issued by the Clerk under subsection (a) shall take effect upon approval by the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated from the applicable accounts of the House of Representatives for fiscal year 2004 and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect October 1, 2003, except that no flags may be provided under section 2 until the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives approves the regulations issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives under section 3.

END