IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 657 
Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and pro-
viding for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconcili-
ation 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 dis-
crimination 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 resolu-
tion 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 pov-
erty in America . . . Our aim is not only to relieve the 
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•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 Amer-
ica,’ millions more Americans would be living in poverty 
today.’’; 
Whereas some of the programs produced by the War on Pov-
erty include Medicaid, Medicare, expanded Social Secu-
rity, 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, vot-
ing, 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, imme-
diate and long-term legislative action to address the 
elimination of racism and invidious discrimination: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) condemns racism and invidious discrimina-
tion as evil and antithetical to the United States 
Constitution; 
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•HRES 657 IH 
(2) declares unconditional war on racism and 
invidious discrimination in America and will provide 
the resources and funding for their defeat; and 
(3) shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet- 
level Department of Reconciliation charged with end-
ing racism and invidious discrimination, developing 
and coordinating the implementation of a com-
prehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and 
invidious discrimination, with a budget that shall be 
the equivalent of not less than 10 percent of the De-
fense Department’s budget, and headed by a Sec-
retary of Reconciliation appointed by the President 
with the advice and consent of the Senate who shall 
make semi-annual progress reports to Congress. 
Æ 
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