H.R. 4845: To designate the National Memorial Day Parade, and for other purposes.
Sponsor
Jake Ellzey
Republican · TX-6
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Aug 1, 2025
Referred to Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Make the Memorial Day parade official — and Pentagon-backed
Why it matters
Every Memorial Day, hundreds of thousands line Constitution Avenue and, the bill's findings say, more than 100 million homes tune in. H.R. 4845 would give that parade an official federal name and hand the Secretary of Defense open-ended authority to send troops and spend federal money on it.
H.R. 4845 does two things. First, it gives an official federal name to the Memorial Day parade held in Washington, DC, designating it the "National Memorial Day Parade." Lawmakers call it the largest Memorial Day event in the country.
The bill's findings lay out the history. They say President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General George Marshall reviewed a Memorial Day parade in Washington on May 30, 1942 — and that the tradition then went dark for 62 years, until the American Veterans Center revived it on May 31, 2004.
The findings also pitch the scale: hundreds of thousands of spectators in DC, a broadcast reaching more than 100 million homes, and a worldwide feed on the American Forces Network. The lineup, the bill says, mixes historical re-enactors, veterans, active-duty personnel, and musical performers.
The part with teeth is the second piece. It lets the Secretary of Defense provide whatever support the Secretary decides is appropriate for the parade — including units of the active and reserve Armed Forces and federal funds for the display of small arms and munitions used in customary ceremonial honors. There's no dollar cap, no deadline, and no requirement to spend anything. The whole decision sits with the Secretary of Defense.
H.R. 4845 Bill Summary
What H.R. 4845 actually does.
The parade gets an official federal name
The bill designates the Memorial Day parade held in Washington, DC, as the "National Memorial Day Parade" — an official name for what lawmakers call the largest Memorial Day event in the country.
The Pentagon can send troops to march
The Secretary of Defense may use units of the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces to support the parade — but only if the Secretary decides that support is appropriate.
Federal money can pay for ceremonial arms — with no cap
The bill lets the Secretary of Defense use federal funds to display small arms and munitions for customary ceremonial honors. It sets no dollar amount, no spending limit, and no deadline.
Support is optional, not required
Nothing in the bill forces the Defense Department to spend a cent or commit a single unit. The military support is entirely at the Secretary of Defense's discretion.
The findings trace a 62-year gap
The bill's findings say Roosevelt and General Marshall reviewed a Memorial Day parade in Washington on May 30, 1942, that the tradition then lapsed for 62 years, and that the American Veterans Center revived it on May 31, 2004.
Who benefits from H.R. 4845?
Veterans honored at the parade
The bill frames the whole effort around honoring American veterans, including veterans of past wars. They get an officially named national event built around their service.
The American Veterans Center
The group that brought the parade back in 2004 after a 62-year gap gets its event written into federal law with an official name.
Service members who march
If the Secretary of Defense signs off, active-duty and reserve units get a formal role in a parade the bill's findings say reaches more than 100 million homes.
The crowd and the audience at home
Hundreds of thousands of spectators on Constitution Avenue, plus viewers in over 100 million homes and the worldwide American Forces Network audience — all numbers drawn from the bill's findings.
Who is affected by H.R. 4845?
The Secretary of Defense
The Secretary gets to decide, with no statutory cap or deadline, how much personnel, equipment, and federal money a parade in the District of Columbia is worth.
The Defense Department's budget
The department could commit active and reserve units and spend federal funds on displays of small arms and munitions, even though the bill names no specific amount.
DC parade organizers and local officials
They would coordinate an event the bill describes as drawing hundreds of thousands to Constitution Avenue, now with a federal name and possible military involvement.
Re-enactors, veterans, and performers in the lineup
The bill specifically names historical re-enactors, veterans, active-duty personnel, and musical performers as part of the parade — participants in a more formally recognized event.
HR4845 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Aug 1, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Jake Ellzey
Republican, Texas's 6th congressional district · 5 years in Congress
Committees: Small Business, Appropriations
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Armed Services Committee
0 of 57 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
0 of 47 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
50 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 4845 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Armed Services
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Introduced
- Aug 1, 2025
Referred to Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Aug 1, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for H.R. 4845 with bill status, text, and actions.
The bill lets the Secretary of Defense use federal funds for small arms and munitions in ceremonial honors; the Army already supplies blank ceremonial ammunition for honors and parades.
Shows how the Defense Department currently provides personnel and customary ceremonial honors, the kind of support the bill would authorize for the parade.
The Army-run national Memorial Day observance, where active-duty units participate, parallels the parade the bill would formally name and support.
The bill is centered on honoring fallen service members and veterans through a nationally recognized Memorial Day parade.
Official federal background on Memorial Day as a national day of remembrance for those who died in military service.
H.R. 4845 Common Questions
Does H.R. 4845 give the Memorial Day parade an official name?
Yes. The bill designates the Memorial Day parade in Washington, DC, as the official "National Memorial Day Parade" — what lawmakers call the largest Memorial Day event in the country.
Does the bill require the Defense Department to support the parade?
No. The support is entirely optional. The Secretary of Defense can provide help only if the Secretary decides it's appropriate — nothing in the bill forces it.
Can active-duty and reserve troops march in the parade?
Yes, if the Secretary of Defense signs off. The bill lets the Secretary use units of the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces to support the parade.
Is there a spending limit on the military support?
No. The bill names no dollar amount, no spending cap, and no deadline. How much federal money goes toward the parade is left entirely to the Secretary of Defense.
Can federal money pay for the ceremonial weapons at the parade?
Yes. The bill lets the Secretary of Defense use federal funds to display small arms and munitions for customary ceremonial honors. No specific amount is set.
How many people watch the National Memorial Day Parade?
The bill's findings say it draws hundreds of thousands of spectators to DC, reaches more than 100 million homes nationwide, and airs worldwide on the American Forces Network.
Why was the Memorial Day parade gone for 62 years?
The bill's findings say a Memorial Day parade reviewed by Roosevelt and General Marshall on May 30, 1942, wasn't renewed for 62 years — until the American Veterans Center revived it on May 31, 2004.
Based on H.R. 4845 bill text
H.R. 4845 Bill Text
“To designate the National Memorial Day Parade, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Get notified when H.R. 4845 moves
Committee votes, floor action, cosponsor changes — straight to your inbox.
Bill alerts + Legisletter's monthly briefing. Unsubscribe anytime.
Armed Forces and National Security Bills
9 related bills we're tracking
Major Richard Star Act
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Apr 4, 2025
Pay Our Troops Act of 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
Sep 16, 2025
Air America Act of 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select).
Mar 18, 2025
Love Lives On Act of 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 3, 2026
GUARD VA Benefits Act
Committee Hearings Held
Mar 18, 2026
Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jul 23, 2025
Major Richard Star Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mar 13, 2025
SAVES Act
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 264.
Sep 26, 2025
Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 292.
Dec 9, 2025
Trending Right Now
Bills gaining momentum across Congress
Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 628.
Jul 2, 2026
Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
May 21, 2026
More Homes on the Market Act
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 13, 2025
Tracking Armed Forces and National Security in Congress? Monitor bills, track cosponsor momentum, and launch advocacy campaigns — all from one advocacy platform.