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 fol-
lowing 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 com-
mittee 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 serv-
ice or uniformed services, or appointment as a cadet 
or midshipman at a military service academy, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
18:19 Nov 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3416.IH
H3416
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF CHANGES TO 
CERTAIN 
MILITARY 
AND 
CIVIL 
SERVICE 
OATHS. 
(a) OATH
OF OFFICE.—Section 3331 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new sentence: ‘‘The text of the oath required by 
this section may not be changed except by Act of Con-
gress.’’. 
(b) ENLISTMENT OATH.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 502 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) TEXT OF OATH.—The text of the oath required 
by this section may not be changed except by Act of Con-
gress.’’. 
(2) NATIONAL GUARD.—Section 304 of title 32, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘The text of the 
oath required by this section may not be changed ex-
cept by Act of Congress.’’. 
(c) MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY OATHS.— 
(1) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.—Sec-
tion 4346(d) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ‘‘The text of the oath required by this sub-
section, and the text of any honor oath required of 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
18:19 Nov 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3416.IH
H3416
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
a cadet, may not be changed except by Act of Con-
gress.’’. 
(2) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.—Section 
6958(d) of such title is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ‘‘On and after Janu-
ary 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the text 
of the oath required by this subsection, and the text 
of any honor oath required of a midshipman, with-
out specific authorization in an Act of Congress.’’. 
(3) UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY.— 
Section 9346(d) of such title is amended by adding 
at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘On and after 
January 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the 
text of the oath required by this subsection, and the 
text of any honor oath required of a cadet, without 
specific authorization in an Act of Congress.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
18:19 Nov 06, 2013
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3416.IH
H3416
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with BILLS