Combating Racist Training in the Military Act of 2023
This bill prohibits the Armed Forces and academic institutions of the Department of Defense from promoting specified anti-American and racist theories (e.g., that any race is inherently superior or inferior to any other race).
Specifically, the bill prohibits
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1228 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1228
To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting anti-American
and racist theories.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2023
Mr. Bishop of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. LaTurner, Mr. Guest, Mr.
Lamborn, Mr. Buck, Mr. Perry, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania,
Mr. Massie, Mrs. Lesko, Mr. Bost, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Steube, Mr. Duncan,
Mr. Davidson, Mr. Burlison, Mrs. Boebert, Mr. Cline, Mr. Johnson of
Louisiana, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr. Rosendale, Mrs.
Luna, Ms. Hageman, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Ogles, Mr. McClintock,
Mr. Roy, Mr. Arrington, Mr. Carl, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, and Mr.
Hudson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting anti-American
and racist theories.
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 ``Combating Racist Training in the
Military Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The founding principles of the United States include
the belief, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, that
``all men are created equal'' and ``are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights''.
(2) The United States commitment to the equal dignity and
natural rights of all mankind is the strongest possible defense
against racism and oppression of all kinds.
(3) The mission of the United States Armed Forces is to
``support and defend the Constitution of the United States
against all enemies, foreign and domestic'' and ``bear true
faith and allegiance to the same''.
(4) To carry out this mission, the Armed Forces must train
leaders who love the United States, its citizens, and the
aforementioned founding principles.
(5) Anti-American and racist theories, such as ``Critical
Race Theory'', teach that the United States is a fundamentally
racist Nation, that the Constitution is a fundamentally racist
document, and that certain races are fundamentally oppressive
or oppressed.
(6) Such theories encourage people to judge and treat
others differently on the basis of their race, rather than
treating them as equal citizens and human beings with equal
dignity and protection under the law.
(7) Anti-American and racist theories, such as Critical
Race Theory, teach students to distrust and even hate their
country and fellow citizens.
(8) The United States Armed Forces should not promote or
otherwise encourage anti-American and racist theories that
demoralize and divide its members while undermining its mission
to ``bear truth faith and allegiance'' to the Constitution.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON PROMOTION OF ANTI-AMERICAN AND RACIST THEORIES.
(a) In General.--The United States Armed Forces and academic
institutions operated or controlled by the Department of Defense shall
not promote the following anti-American and racist theories:
(1) Any race is inherently superior or inferior to any
other race.
(2) The United States of America is a fundamentally racist
country.
(3) The Declaration of Independence or the United States
Constitution are fundamentally racist documents.
(4) An individual's moral character or worth is determined
by his or her race.
(5) An individual, by virtue of his or her race, is
inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or
unconsciously.
(6) An individual, because of his or her race, bears
responsibility for the actions committed by other members of
his or her race.
(b) Promote Defined.--In this section, the term ``promote'' means
the following:
(1) Including theories described under subsection (a) or
materials that advocate such theories in curricula, reading
lists, seminars, workshops, trainings, or other educational or
professional settings in a manner that could reasonably give
rise to the appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or
endorsement.
(2) Contracting with, hiring, or otherwise engaging
speakers, consultants, diversity trainers, and other persons
for the purpose of advocating theories described under
subsection (a).
(3) Compelling members of the Armed Forces to affirm or
profess belief in theories described under subsection (a).
(4) Segregating members of the Armed Forces or other
individuals by race in any setting, including educational and
training sessions.
(c) Rules of Construction.--
(1) Protected speech not restricted.--Nothing in this
section shall be construed to restrict the protected speech of
members of the Armed Forces or any individual.
(2) Access to materials for the purpose of research or
independent study.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
to prevent individuals from accessing materials that advocate
theories described under subsection (a) for the purpose of
research or independent study.
(3) Contextual education.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent the United States Armed Forces and
academic institutions operated or controlled by the Department
of Defense from stating theories described under subsection (a)
or assigning materials that advocate such theories for
educational purposes in contexts that make clear the United
States Armed Forces and Department of Defense does not sponsor,
approve, or endorse such theories or works.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
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