News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

November 18, 1997

President Signs Harman POW/MIA Flag Display Requirement Into Law

WASHINGTON -- The display of the haunting black and white POW/MIA flag on patriotic holidays at federal buildings and Post Offices is now the law of the land, following President Clinton's signing today of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act.

Rep. Jane Harman, who sponsored the provision and ushered it through the legislative process, commended South Bay veterans and, in particular, former Lomita Councilman David Albert, for their help in securing passage of the flag display requirement.

"On future patriotic holidays, when Americans everywhere see the POW/MIA flag above their neigborhood post office and at other federal buildings, they will be reminded of our continuing commitment to the servicemen and women who remain unaccounted for in our nation's wars," said Harman today.

Harman said she drafted the bill in response to complaints from Albert and veterans' groups who were denied permission last year to fly the distinctive black and white flag at a POW/MIA memorial at the Lomita Post Office. A short time later, a POW/MIA flag which had been flying over the Post Office in Palos Verdes for a number of years was ordered removed by postal authorities.

When asked by Harman and others to modify the regulation, Postmaster General Marvin Runyon responded that he saw no need to. "I was disappointed by his answer," said Harman. "Postmasters are members of local communities and should be permitted to accommodate reasonable requests to fly flags, particularly one like the POW/MIA flag, which Congress has officially recognized as the symbol of our Nation's commitment to those still missing and unaccounted for."

Under Harman's POW/MIA flag provision, the number of Federal sites where the flag will be flown is expanded to include Post Office, selected military bases, and selected war memorials in Washington, DC. It also requires that the flag be flown on several specific national holidays associated with patriotism: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and National POW/MIA Recognition Day.