HRES894-119

That the House of Representatives— 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; 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; 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; 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; 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 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.