Sponsor
Bernardo Moreno
Senator · R-OH
Senator · R-OH
The bill standardizes Capitol Grounds displays to U.S. flags and trims small flag-related spending, trading off Members' ability to display foreign flags and imposing modest compliance and alternative-recognition costs on congressional offices.
Visitors and staff on Capitol Grounds see only U.S. flags, creating a uniform national symbolism on federal property.
Stops Members from using official office allowances to purchase foreign flags, producing a small direct savings to taxpayers.
Members and congressional offices lose discretion to display foreign flags in offices or on Capitol Grounds, restricting elected officials' expressive choices and office representation.
Offices that used foreign-flag displays to recognize diplomatic relationships or diaspora communities must adopt alternative methods that may be more costly or less visible to constituents.
Enforcement and oversight to prevent misuse of allowances could create administrative compliance burdens and potential penalties for House and Senate offices.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bans display of foreign national flags on Capitol Grounds and bars using Members’ and Senators’ office funds to buy foreign national flags.
Official title: Prohibit displaying the flag of a country other than the United States on Capitol Hill and to prohibit Members of Congress from using official funds to purchase the flag of a country other than the United States.
Introduced March 5, 2025 by Bernardo Moreno · Last progress March 5, 2025
Prohibits displaying or purchasing any country’s national flag other than the U.S. flag on United States Capitol Grounds and bars use of Members’ and Senators’ official office funds to buy foreign national flags. The rule applies to Members, Members-elect, and Senators and restricts use of specified congressional office allowances for such purchases.