Proper Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day Act
The Proper Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day Act would adjust the federal holiday schedule (Title 5, U.S.C. 6103) so that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK Day) and Inauguration Day are not observed on the same date. Specifically, the bill adds a rule: if, under current law, Inauguration Day would be observed on the legal public holiday for MLK Day, then MLK Day would be moved to the Tuesday following the third Monday in January. In general, MLK Day remains the third Monday in January, but the new provision provides a separate date when there would otherwise be a clash with Inauguration Day. The goal is to ensure that the two holidays are celebrated on distinct days. The bill is narrowly focused on holiday scheduling for federal observances and does not otherwise change how Inauguration Day is determined. It reorganizes a subsection of the same statute to insert the new rule and clarifies that MLK Day can shift only to avoid overlapping with Inauguration Day.
Key Points
- 1Purpose: Ensure Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is not observed on the same day as Inauguration Day by creating a separate observance date when a clash would occur.
- 2Amendment: Changes to 5 U.S.C. 6103 include redesignating subsection (d) as (e) and adding a new subsection (d) that implements the separation rule.
- 3Trigger for change: The MLK Day date would be shifted only if Inauguration Day would otherwise be observed on the MLK Day under current law.
- 4Specific date rule: When triggered, MLK Day would become the Tuesday following the third Monday in January.
- 5Scope: The change applies to federal holidays as defined in 5 U.S.C. 6103 and does not alter Inauguration Day itself or other holidays.