H.Res. 1045

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1045 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1045

Calling on the Secretary of Education to work with stakeholders to 
immediately eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and names from 
State educational institutions, and calling on State educational 
institutions and national sports franchises to cease the unsanctioned 
use of such logos, mascots, and names.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 9, 2026

Mr. Pallone submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Calling on the Secretary of Education to work with stakeholders to 
immediately eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and names from 
State educational institutions, and calling on State educational 
institutions and national sports franchises to cease the unsanctioned 
use of such logos, mascots, and names.

Whereas, based on article I section 8 of the United States Constitution, 
treaties, Federal statutes, and court decisions, the United States has a 
unique historical and legal relationship with the American Indian and 
Alaska Native peoples, which serves as the basis for the Federal 
Government's trust responsibility and obligations to the American Indian 
and Alaska Native peoples;
Whereas there are 574 federally recognized Indian Tribes in the United States, 
with some 40 percent of Indian Tribes located in the State of Alaska;
Whereas Indian Tribes have principal responsibility for lands and people within 
their jurisdictions;
Whereas this responsibility extends to educating their American Indian and 
Alaska Native students and providing adequate educational facilities in 
which the students can learn;
Whereas kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools all over the Nation use 
words and symbols representing their schools that are harmful to Native 
Americans;
Whereas, nationally, more than 1,900 kindergarten, elementary, and secondary 
schools inappropriately use such harmful names or nicknames, and these 
names or symbols often become mascots and are used at athletic games for 
mascot characters, chants, and other antics;
Whereas, although these school communities do not intend disrespect toward 
Native Americans, that is the end result of allowing these harmful terms 
to continue in educational institutions;
Whereas there have been national sports teams that have recognized that their 
mascots were racist and harmful to Native American communities;
Whereas there has been scientific research conducted to determine the harmful 
effects of these ``Native'' sports mascots on our Native youth;
Whereas multiple academic studies over the last few decades have found that 
American Indian and Alaska Native high school and college students had a 
consistent, negative reaction to stereotypical mascots because these 
images and names remind Native youth of the limited ways in which others 
see them, which in turn restricts how they see themselves, and, 
importantly, the self-esteem of non-Native youths rose when presented 
with the same images; and
Whereas the American Psychological Association has determined that these 
representations also undermine the ability of Native Nations and peoples 
to portray themselves accurately as distinct and diverse cultures, and 
that stereotypical images are a dominant culture's prejudiced 
representations of a racial or ethnic minority group: Now, therefore, be 
it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House of Representatives condemns all racism and 
discrimination;
(2) the Secretary of Education should work with Tribal 
Nations, Native American groups, public kindergarten, 
elementary, and secondary schools, and other stakeholders to 
immediately eliminate race-based Native logos, mascots, and 
names from State educational institutions across the United 
States, especially those receiving Federal funds; and
(3) the House of Representatives calls for State 
educational institutions and national sports franchises to 
cease the unsanctioned use of such race-based Native logos, 
mascots, and names in the effort to overcome these stereotypes 
and raise the self-esteem of Native students so they have the 
same opportunity as their non-Native peers to achieve 
academically without discrimination.
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