H.Res. 894

[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.

_______________________________________________________________________

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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