I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 985 

To prohibit the use of Federal funds in any program, project, or activity 

of any agency in the Executive Branch to provide principles, resources, 

or specific suggestions for gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive communication principles to help inform an inclusive approach to 

carrying out any such program, project, and activity. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 10, 2023 

Mr. NEHLS (for himself, Mr. GAETZ, and Mrs. BOEBERT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

A BILL 

To prohibit the use of Federal funds in any program, project, 

or activity of any agency in the Executive Branch to 

provide principles, resources, or specific suggestions for 

gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive communication principles to help inform an inclusive approach 

to carrying out any such program, project, and activity. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Productivity Over Pro5 nouns Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR 

2 GENDER NEUTRAL OR INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE 

3 OR INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION PRINCIPLES 

4 TO HELP INFORM AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH 

5 TO CARRYING OUT ANY SUCH PROGRAM, 

6 PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Amounts may not be appropriated 

8 for use in any program, project, or activity of any agency, 

9 and funds made available for any program, project, or ac10 tivity of any agency may not be obligated or expended, 

11 to provide principles, resources, or specific suggestions for 

12 gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive commu13 nication principles to help inform an inclusive approach 

14 to carrying out any such program, project, and activity. 

15 (b) GENDER NEUTRAL OR INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

16 AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION PRINCIPLES.—For pur17 poses of this section, the term ‘‘gender neutral or inclusive 

18 language and inclusive communication principles’’ in19 cludes— 

20 (1) any form of communication that avoids 

21 using words, expressions or assumptions that would 

22 stereotype, demean or exclude people; 

23 (2) language that avoids bias towards a par24 ticular sex or gender; 

25 (3) preferred terms that attempt to represent 

26 an ongoing shift toward non-stigmatizing language; 


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1 (4) language that emphasizes the importance of 

2 addressing all people inclusively and respectfully; 

3 (5) using an equity lens when framing informa4 tion about disparities among populations; 

5 (6) any form of communication that classifies 

6 people by pronouns; 

7 (7) using preferred terms for select population 

8 groups while recognizing that there isn’t always 

9 agreement on these terms; and 

10 (8) considering how communications are devel11 oped and looking for ways to develop more inclusive 

12 communications products. 

13 (c) AGENCY.—For purposes of this section, the term 

14 ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given such term by section 

15 551(1) of title 5, United States Code. 

Æ 


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