H.R. 2119, titled the St. Patrick's Day Act, would designate St. Patrick’s Day as a federal holiday by amending title 5 of the U.S. Code. Specifically, it would insert “St. Patrick’s Day” into the list of federal holidays in Section 6103(a), immediately after the entry for Washington’s Birthday. The effect would be to make March 17 a federally recognized holiday, with the same general framework and observance rules that apply to other federal holidays (e.g., federal offices typically closed, federal employees granted a holiday, and standard observance rules if the date falls on weekends). The bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Fitzpatrick and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; it does not include any funding or implementation details beyond adding the holiday to the statutory list.
Key Points
- 1Adds St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) to the list of federal holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a), placing it after Washington’s Birthday.
- 2Establishes St. Patrick’s Day as a federal holiday for purposes of official federal government operations (closed offices on the holiday; federal employee pay and leave rules apply as with other holidays).
- 3Observance rules for holidays that fall on weekends would follow the same practices as other federal holidays (e.g., observed on nearest weekday if the date falls on Saturday or Sunday).
- 4No funding or cost provisions are included in the bill; the economic and operational impact would depend on standard federal holiday dynamics and any ripple effects to related sectors (e.g., mail, markets, contractors).
- 5Status: Introduced in the House (H.R. 2119) on March 14, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Sponsor listed as Mr. Fitzpatrick.