H.R. 8587

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8587 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8587

To prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce 
measures requiring certain employees to refer to an individual by the 
preferred pronouns of such individual or a name other than the legal 
name of such individual, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 29, 2026

Mr. Ogles (for himself, Ms. Boebert, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Crane, Mr. Gosar, 
and Mr. Weber of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce 
measures requiring certain employees to refer to an individual by the 
preferred pronouns of such individual or a name other than the legal 
name of such individual, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Safeguarding Honest Speech Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. NO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR COMPELLED LANGUAGE.

(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no 
funds may be used for the purpose of implementing, administering, or 
enforcing any rule, policy, guidance, recommendation, or memoranda 
requiring an employee or contractor of any Federal agency or Department 
to use--
(1) another person's preferred pronouns if they are 
incompatible with such a person's sex; or
(2) a name other than a person's legal name when referring 
to such a person.
(b) Enforcement.--
(1) In general.--All Federal agencies and Departments shall 
ensure that, not later than 30 days following a written notice 
from any employee or contractor regarding an alleged violation 
of subsection (a), a formal response to the notice is issued to 
the employee or contractor.
(2) Private right of action.--In the case that the formal 
response in subsection (a) does not represent a satisfactory 
outcome for a Federal employee or contractor, any employee or 
contractor aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) may 
commence a civil action against the Federal agency or 
Department responsible for the alleged violation.
(3) Relief.--In any action under this subsection, the court 
may award appropriate relief, including--
(A) temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive 
relief;
(B) compensatory damages;
(C) punitive or exemplary damages, which may not 
exceed $100,000; and
(D) reasonable fees for attorneys.
(4) Statute of limitations.--An action under this 
subsection shall be brought not later than one year after the 
date on which the alleged violation of subsection (a) occurred.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Female.--The term ``female'' refers to an individual 
who has, had, will have, or would have, but for a developmental 
or genetic anomaly or historical accident, the reproductive 
system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes 
eggs for fertilization.
(2) Male.--The term ``male'' refers to an individual who 
has, had, will have, or would have, but for a developmental or 
genetic anomaly or historical accident, the reproductive system 
that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for 
fertilization.
(3) Sex.--The term ``sex'' refers to biological sex, either 
male or female.
(4) Person.--The term ``person'' refers to a natural 
person.
<all>