[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 894 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 894
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that strong public
education in United States history and civics is essential to
preserving the Nation's founding ideals on the eve of the 250th
anniversary of the United States.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 19, 2025
Mr. Costa submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
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RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that strong public
education in United States history and civics is essential to
preserving the Nation's founding ideals on the eve of the 250th
anniversary of the United States.
Whereas the Declaration of Independence famously states that ``We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,'' and that
governments derive ``their just powers from the consent of the
governed'';
Whereas the American Revolution was a turning point in world history that helped
transform subjects into citizens and launched a new experiment in self-
government based on natural rights and the rule of law, reminding future
generations that democracy is not automatic, but rather the consequence
of citizens willing to defend and renew those ideals;
Whereas George Washington, drawing on experience in earlier conflicts and
enduring hardships alongside his troops, and learning from early
military setbacks and failures, helped hold together the Continental
Army and our fragile new Nation;
Whereas Washington set enduring essential precedents by resigning his commission
as commander of the military and facilitated an historic and peaceful
transfer of power as the first President of the United States;
Whereas historic places such as Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, and other sites
across the United States remind United States citizens that the Nation's
founding ideals were forged not in abstraction but through the choices
and sacrifices of real people and communities, including ordinary
soldiers, families, and neighbors whose lives were upended by the
violence and uncertainty of war;
Whereas strong instruction in United States history and civics in our Nation's
schools helps ensure that every student, regardless of background or zip
code, learns how the United States was founded, how its institutions
work, and what it means to be an informed and responsible citizen,
recognizing that civic learning is a lifelong pursuit and a safeguard of
the Republic;
Whereas high-quality education in United States history and civics helps
students understand core principles of the Nation's founding, including
individual liberty, equality under the law, representative democracy,
and the responsibilities of citizenship such as cultivating virtue,
integrity, and a sense of duty to the common good;
Whereas learning about the founding era, including the American Revolution and
the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,
equips students and adults alike to place current events in historical
context and to better appreciate the ongoing work of forming ``a more
perfect Union'', including the courage, conflicts, and sacrifices that
marked the Nation's earliest years;
Whereas historians, classroom teachers, museums, historic sites, and documentary
filmmakers have all helped United States citizens see the Nation's past
more clearly by telling stories that combine well-known leaders with the
experiences of everyday people who also shaped the course of events,
including through major documentary series and educational programs that
present first-person perspectives on the founding era;
Whereas the year 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence, and the America 250 Caucus and other bipartisan efforts
are working to ensure that this milestone strengthens civic knowledge,
patriotism, and national unity; and
Whereas the semiquincentennial presents a unique opportunity to renew the
Nation's commitment to the founding ideals that, while not always
perfectly realized, have inspired United States citizens and peoples
around the world for nearly 250 years: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) reaffirms that strong history and civics education in
our Nation's schools is essential to preserving the United
States founding ideals of liberty, equality, and self-
government, and to preparing the next generation to carry those
ideals forward;
(2) recognizes the upcoming 250th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence as an opportunity to strengthen
civic knowledge, patriotism, and a shared understanding of the
American story among students and the public at large,
including a fuller appreciation of both the Nation's
achievements and its struggles during the Revolutionary era;
(3) encourages States, territories, Indian Tribes, and
local educational agencies to provide age-appropriate, fact-
based instruction about the American Revolution, the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and key leaders
such as George Washington and other figures who helped hold the
early Republic together;
(4) supports voluntary partnerships among public schools,
museums, libraries, historic sites, including places such as
Mount Vernon, veteran and civic organizations, and educational
media producers to help students better understand how the
United States was founded and how its institutions work;
(5) recognizes the work of teachers, historians, and
educational professionals, including those who produce
classroom materials, documentaries, and museum exhibits, who
devote their careers to ensuring that students learn about the
Nation's founding principles, its challenges, and the
responsibilities of citizenship; and
(6) encourages all United States citizens, and especially
young people, to study and reflect on the examples of George
Washington and other founding leaders, as well as the ordinary
men and women whose courage and perseverance helped secure
United States independence, and to strive in their own lives to
live up to enduring American ideals of duty, integrity, public
service, and placing country above self.
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