# What This Bill Does

This is a resolution asking the House of Representatives to officially recognize the third Friday of September as "National POW/MIA Recognition Day." POW/MIA stands for Prisoners of War and Missing in Action—military personnel who were either held captive by enemies or whose whereabouts remain unknown after conflicts. The bill doesn't create any new laws or change government operations; it's essentially a formal statement expressing the House's support for honoring these service members and their families.

The resolution highlights some sobering facts: over 80,000 American service members remain unaccounted for across all wars and conflicts, with roughly 73,000 from World War II alone. The bill acknowledges that the federal government has a moral obligation to account for these missing personnel and to prevent future losses. It also recognizes that a POW/MIA flag already exists and has been flying over federal buildings since 1982, so this resolution is building on existing recognition efforts.

What this means in practical terms is that if passed, the House would be encouraging Americans to set aside the third Friday of September each year to remember and honor these missing and captured service members. The resolution calls on people to participate in local commemorative events, display the POW/MIA flag, and perform acts of service for the families of those who remain unaccounted for. For most Americans, this won't directly change their daily lives, but it formalizes a day of national remembrance and reinforces the government's commitment to never forgetting these service members and their families.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the third Friday of September shall be recognized as "National POW/MIA Recognition Day".

Gonzales, Tony

<p>This resolution acknowledges that the federal government has the moral obligation to fully account for U.S. prisoners of war and missing-in-action military personnel (i.e., POW/MIA) and to mitigate the number of POW/MIA in future conflicts. Further, the resolution expresses gratitude to the POW/MIA of every conflict who have fought for American freedoms.</p><p>Finally, the resolution expresses support for the designation of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.</p>