Definitions
In this subchapter—
(1) the term "Capitol-flown flag" means a flag of the United States flown over the Capitol in honor of the deceased individual for whom the flag is requested;
(2) the terms "chaplain", "firefighter", "law enforcement officer", "member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew", and "public agency" have the meanings given such terms in section 10284 of title 34;
(3) the term "immediate family member", with respect to an individual, means—
(A) the spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of the individual or a person to whom the individual stands in loco parentis; or
(B) any other person related to the individual by blood or marriage;
(4) the term "public safety officer" means an individual serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a firefighter, or as a chaplain; and
(5) the term "Representative" includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.
Providing Capitol-flown flags for families of fallen heroes
(a) In general
At the request of an immediate family member of a firefighter, law enforcement officer, member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, or public safety officer who died in the line of duty, the Representative or Senator of the family may provide to the family a Capitol-flown flag, together with the certificate described in subsection (c).
(b) No cost to family
A Capitol-flown 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, or the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Senator, providing the Capitol-flown flag, as applicable, and which contains an expression of sympathy for the family involved from the House of Representatives or the Senate, as applicable.
Regulations and procedures
(a) In general
Not later than 30 days after May 16, 2016, the Architect of the Capitol shall issue regulations for carrying out this subchapter, including regulations to establish procedures (including any appropriate forms, guidelines, and accompanying certificates) for requesting a Capitol-flown flag.
(b) Review
The regulations issued under subsection (a) shall take effect upon approval by the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2028 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subchapter, to be derived from amounts appropriated in each such fiscal year for the operation of the Architect of the Capitol, except that the aggregate amount appropriated to carry out this subchapter for all such fiscal years may not exceed $40,000.
Effective date
This subchapter shall take effect on May 16, 2016, except that a Capitol-flown flag may not be provided under section 1881a of this title until the regulations issued under section 1881b(a) of this title take effect in accordance with section 1881b(b) of this title.
Source: United States Code / CFR (uscode.house.gov, govinfo.gov) — U.S. federal law, public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105).
