I 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3416 

To amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to require congressional 

approval before any change may be made to the oaths required for 

enlistment in the Armed Forces, appointment to an office in the civil 

service or uniformed services, or appointment as a cadet or midshipman 

at a military service academy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 30, 2013 

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas (for himself and Mr. OLSON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and 

in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to 

require congressional approval before any change may 

be made to the oaths required for enlistment in the 

Armed Forces, appointment to an office in the civil service or uniformed services, or appointment as a cadet 

or midshipman at a military service academy, and for 

other purposes. 

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

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1 SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO 

2 CERTAIN MILITARY AND CIVIL SERVICE 

3 OATHS. 

4 (a) OATH OF OFFICE.—Section 3331 of title 5, 

5 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

6 following new sentence: ‘‘The text of the oath required by 

7 this section may not be changed except by Act of Con8 gress.’’. 

9 (b) ENLISTMENT OATH.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 502 of title 10, 

11 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

12 end the following new subsection: 

13 ‘‘(c) TEXT OF OATH.—The text of the oath required 

14 by this section may not be changed except by Act of Con15 gress.’’. 

16 (2) NATIONAL GUARD.—Section 304 of title 32, 

17 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

18 end the following new sentence: ‘‘The text of the 

19 oath required by this section may not be changed ex20 cept by Act of Congress.’’. 

21 (c) MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY OATHS.— 

22 (1) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Sec23 tion 4346(d) of title 10, United States Code, is 

24 amended by adding at the end the following new 

25 sentence: ‘‘The text of the oath required by this sub26 section, and the text of any honor oath required of 

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1 a cadet, may not be changed except by Act of Con2 gress.’’. 

3 (2) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 

4 6958(d) of such title is amended by adding at the 

5 end the following new sentence: ‘‘On and after Janu6 ary 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the text 

7 of the oath required by this subsection, and the text 

8 of any honor oath required of a midshipman, with9 out specific authorization in an Act of Congress.’’. 

10 (3) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.— 

11 Section 9346(d) of such title is amended by adding 

12 at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘On and after 

13 January 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the 

14 text of the oath required by this subsection, and the 

15 text of any honor oath required of a cadet, without 

16 specific authorization in an Act of Congress.’’. 

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