Washington
Congressional Lawmakers Reintroduce Diwali Federal Holiday Bill
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Key points
- U.S. Rep. Grace Meng reintroduced the Diwali Day Act (H.R. 10967) during the 119th Congress.
- If enacted, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States.
- Nineteen House co-sponsors back the legislation recognizing Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist observances.
NewsWK — Lawmakers in Washington have reintroduced legislation to turn Deepavali, also called the Festival of Lights, into an official federal holiday. U.S. Representative Grace Meng announced the measure on Monday, November 9, 2026. If Congress approves the legislation, the law would create the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States.
What is proposed in the Diwali Day Act?
The federal measure officially carries the title of H.R. 10967, or the Diwali Day Act.
Who supports the Grace Meng Diwali bill in Congress?
Representative Grace Meng leads the legislative push as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Additionally, nineteen co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives back the bill during the 119th Congress. Key co-sponsors include Representatives Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, and Shri Thanedar.
What would a Diwali national holiday US change for communities?
The proposed legislation highlights Diwali as a major annual observance for millions of citizens. Specifically, the official draft text recognizes traditions within Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist faiths. Furthermore, the bill acknowledges cultural celebrations across South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Indo-Caribbean communities.
What is the legislative history of HR 10967?
This proposal builds directly on earlier legislative action in the House of Representatives. Previously, Representative Meng introduced a prior version, H.R. 3336, on May 15, 2023, during the 118th Congress. However, that measure did not become law before the session ended. Consequently, lawmakers refiled the Diwali federal holiday bill during the 119th Congress.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
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