Let Freedom Sing Act

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4003 To prohibit any regulations on the singing of the National Anthem on any Federal property. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 12, 2023 Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. FRY, Ms. MACE, Mr. NORMAN, and Mr. DUNCAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider- ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prohibit any regulations on the singing of the National Anthem on any Federal property. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Let Freedom Sing 4 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Jul 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4003.IH H4003 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 4003 IH (1) Singing of the National Anthem is an offi- 1 cially recognized national unity ritual. Inspired by 2 the sight of the American flag still waving at Fort 3 McHenry after 25 hours of continual bombardment 4 by British forces, Francis Scott Key wrote the words 5 of the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814. In 1931, Con- 6 gress declared that the Star-Spangled Banner is the 7 national anthem of the United States in section 301 8 of title 36, United States Code. 9 (2) Recognizing that the First Amendment 10 states ‘‘Congress shall make no law . . . abridging 11 the freedom of speech’’. 12 (3) Further recognizes that singing the Na- 13 tional Anthem is an ultimate demonstration of free- 14 dom of speech, and any restrictions placed upon 15 singing the National Anthem in a means that is non- 16 disruptive would be a violation of the First Amend- 17 ment. 18 (4) Continues that Federal properties such as 19 the U.S. Capitol should be included as ‘‘traditional 20 public forums’’ and that singing the National An- 21 them in public spaces which does not interfere with 22 the operation of the Federal Government’s official 23 business shall not be viewed as a form of protest. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Jul 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4003.IH H4003 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 4003 IH (5) Recognizes that specific spaces in the U.S. 1 Capitol such as National Statuary Hall are a part 2 of the shared American heritage, and access to these 3 spaces for national unity rituals shall not be limited, 4 as singing the National Anthem is not a form of dis- 5 ruptive protest. 6 (b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to pro- 7 tect and to preserve national unity and freedom of speech 8 guaranteeing that the right to sing the National Anthem 9 in federally owned public spaces such as the U.S. Capitol 10 shall not be restricted for any purposes, when the actions 11 do not interfere with the operation of the Federal Govern- 12 ment. 13 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION. 14 (a) PROHIBITION.— 15 (1) Prohibits musical performances from being 16 listed as an activity requiring permits from U.S. 17 Capitol Police or the Sergeant at Arms for activities 18 in the U.S. Capitol. 19 (2) Overrules D.C. Code § 22–1307 with exclu- 20 sive regard to the U.S. Capitol to ensure that in 21 public spaces within the U.S. Capitol, specifically 22 National Statuary Hall, where it does not interfere 23 with the flow of official business it is lawful to sing 24 the National Anthem without prior authorization 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Jul 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4003.IH H4003 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HR 4003 IH being required and that it shall not be considered a 1 form of unpermitted protest. 2 (3) Places the sole discretion to limit musical 3 performances in the Capitol on the Speaker of the 4 House and President of the Senate, to be exercised 5 at a shared discretion only to permit official business 6 to continue uninterrupted. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Jul 12, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4003.IH H4003 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB