IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 657 

Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and providing for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 18, 2023 

Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and providing for the establishment of a 

Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with 

eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. 

Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolution declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious 

discrimination and providing for the establishment of a 

Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation; 

Whereas this resolution is presented in the spirit of President 

Lyndon B. Johnson, who—on January 8, 1964, after the 

assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a 

time of great turmoil—proclaimed, ‘‘This administration 

today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America . . . Our aim is not only to relieve the 

2 

•HRES 657 IH 

symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to 

prevent it.’’; 

Whereas President Barack Obama indicated, ‘‘In fact, if we 

hadn’t declared ‘unconditional war on poverty in America,’ millions more Americans would be living in poverty 

today.’’; 

Whereas some of the programs produced by the War on Poverty include Medicaid, Medicare, expanded Social Security, and Head Start—all of which are still needed today; 

Whereas racism and invidious discrimination—like poverty in 

1964—remain pervasive in our country; 

Whereas history is replete with examples of victims of racism 

and invidious discrimination being denied life, liberty, 

and the pursuit of happiness; 

Whereas systemic and institutionalized racism and invidious 

discrimination exist in virtually all areas of American life, 

including policing, criminal justice, housing, banking, voting, employment, education, the environment, and health 

care; and 

Whereas the protestations in the aftermath of the tragic 

death of George Floyd are a clear indication that it has 

become necessary for Congress to take decisive, immediate and long-term legislative action to address the 

elimination of racism and invidious discrimination: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns racism and invidious discrimina3 tion as evil and antithetical to the United States 

4 Constitution; 

3 

•HRES 657 IH 

1 (2) declares unconditional war on racism and 

2 invidious discrimination in America and will provide 

3 the resources and funding for their defeat; and 

4 (3) shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet5 level Department of Reconciliation charged with end6 ing racism and invidious discrimination, developing 

7 and coordinating the implementation of a com8 prehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and 

9 invidious discrimination, with a budget that shall be 

10 the equivalent of not less than 10 percent of the De11 fense Department’s budget, and headed by a Sec12 retary of Reconciliation appointed by the President 

13 with the advice and consent of the Senate who shall 

14 make semi-annual progress reports to Congress. 

Æ