I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2858 
To establish and strengthen postsecondary programs and courses in the sub-
jects of traditional American history, free institutions, and Western civili-
zation, available to students preparing to teach these subjects, and to 
other students. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 9, 2005 
Mr. PETRI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To establish and strengthen postsecondary programs and 
courses in the subjects of traditional American history, 
free institutions, and Western civilization, available to 
students preparing to teach these subjects, and to other 
students. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Higher Education for 
Freedom Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Given the increased threat to American 
ideals in the trying times in which we live, it is im-
portant to preserve and defend our common heritage 
of freedom and civilization and to ensure that future 
generations of Americans understand the importance 
of traditional American history and the principles of 
free government on which this Nation was founded 
in order to provide the basic knowledge that is es-
sential to full and informed participation in civic life 
and to the larger vibrancy of the American experi-
ment in self-government, binding together a diverse 
people into a single Nation with a common purpose. 
(2) However, despite its importance, most of 
the Nation’s colleges and universities no longer re-
quire United States history or systematic study of 
Western civilization and free institutions as a pre-
requisite to graduation. 
(3) In addition, too many of our Nation’s ele-
mentary and secondary school history teachers lack 
the training necessary to effectively teach these sub-
jects, due largely to the inadequacy of their teacher 
preparation. 
(4) Distinguished historians and intellectuals 
fear that without a common civic memory and a 
common understanding of the remarkable individ-
uals, events, and ideals that have shaped our Nation 
and its free institutions, the people in the United 
States risk losing much of what it means to be an 
American, as well as the ability to fulfill the funda-
mental responsibilities of citizens in a democracy. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are to pro-
mote and sustain postsecondary academic centers, insti-
tutes, and programs that offer undergraduate and grad-
uate courses, support research, sponsor lectures, seminars, 
and conferences, and develop teaching materials, for the 
purpose of developing and imparting a knowledge of tradi-
tional American history, the American founding, and the 
history and nature of, and threats to, free institutions, or 
of the nature, history and achievements of western civiliza-
tion, particularly for— 
(1) undergraduate students who are enrolled in 
teacher education programs, who may consider be-
coming school teachers, or who wish to enhance their 
civic competence; 
(2) elementary, middle, and secondary school 
teachers in need of additional training in order to ef-
fectively teach in these subject areas; and 
(3) graduate students and postsecondary fac-
ulty who wish to teach about these subject areas 
with greater knowledge and effectiveness.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(1) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘eligi-
ble institution’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education; 
(B) a specific program within an institu-
tion of higher education; and 
(C) a non-profit history or academic orga-
nization associated with higher education whose 
mission is consistent with the purposes of this 
Act. 
(2) FREE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘free insti-
tution’’ means an institution that emerged out of 
Western Civilization, such as democracy, constitu-
tional government, individual rights, market econom-
ics, religious freedom and tolerance, and freedom of 
thought and inquiry. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the same 
meaning given that term under section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(5) TRADITIONAL
AMERICAN
HISTORY.—The 
term ‘‘traditional American history’’ means—
(A) the significant constitutional, political, 
intellectual, economic, and foreign policy trends 
and issues that have shaped the course of 
American history; and 
(B) the key episodes, turning points, and 
leading figures involved in the constitutional, 
political, intellectual, diplomatic, and economic 
history of the United States. 
SEC. 4. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts appropriated to 
carry out this act, the secretary shall award grants, on 
a competitive basis, to eligible institutions, which grants 
shall be used for— 
(1) history teacher preparation initiatives, 
that— 
(A) stress content mastery in traditional 
American history and the principles on which 
the American political system is based, includ-
ing the history and philosophy of free institu-
tions, and the study of Western civilization; and 
(B) provide for grantees to carry out re-
search, planning, and coordination activities de-
voted to the purposes of this Act; and 
(2) strengthening postsecondary programs in 
fields related to the American founding, free institu-
tions, 
and 
western 
civilization, 
particularly 
through—
(A) the design and implementation of 
courses, lecture series and symposia, the devel-
opment and publication of instructional mate-
rials, and the development of new, and sup-
porting of existing, academic centers; 
(B) research supporting the development 
of relevant course materials; 
(C) the support of faculty teaching in un-
dergraduate and graduate programs; and 
(D) the support of graduate and post-
graduate fellowships and courses for scholars 
related to such fields. 
(b) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting eligible insti-
tutions for grants under this section for any fiscal year, 
the Secretary shall establish criteria by regulation, which 
shall, at a minimum, consider the education value and rel-
evance of the institution’s programming to carrying out 
the purposes of this Act and the expertise of key personnel 
in the area of traditional American history and the prin-
ciples on which the American political system is based, in-
cluding the political and intellectual history and philos-
ophy of free institutions, the American Founding, and
other key events that have contributed to American free-
dom, and the study of Western civilization. 
(c) GRANT APPLICATION.—An eligible institution 
that desires to receive a grant under this Act shall submit 
to the Secretary an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
prescribe by regulation. 
(d) GRANT REVIEW.—The Secretary shall establish 
procedures for reviewing and evaluating grants made 
under this Act. 
(e) GRANT AWARDS.—
(1) MAXIMUM
AND
MINIMUM
GRANTS.—The 
Secretary shall award each grant under this Act in 
an amount that is not less than $400,000 and not 
more than $6,000,000. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—A subgrant made by an eligi-
ble institution under this Act to another eligible in-
stitution shall not be subject to the minimum 
amount specified in paragraph (1). 
(f) MULTIPLE AWARDS.—For the purposes of this 
Act, the Secretary may award more than 1 grant to an 
eligible institution. 
(g) SUBGRANTS.—An eligible institution may use 
grant funds provided under this Act to award subgrants
to other eligible institutions at the discretion of, and sub-
ject to the oversight of, the Secretary. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are 
authorized to be appropriated—
(1) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and 
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the succeeding 5 fiscal years.
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