I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2336
To amend the Higher Education Act to establish and strengthen post-sec-
ondary 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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 4, 2003
Mr. PETRI (for himself, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. DREIER, Mr. WICKER, and Mr. 
GARRETT of New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act to establish and 
strengthen post-secondary 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 purposes. 
(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 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 purpose of this act is to pro-
mote and sustain post-secondary academic centers, insti-
tutes, and programs that offer undergraduate and grad-
uate courses, support research, and develop teaching ma-
terials for the purpose of developing and imparting a 
knowledge of traditional American history, the American 
Founding, the history and nature of, and threats to, free 
institutions, or of the nature, history and achievements of 
Western Civilization, particularly for—
(1) undergraduate students enrolled in teacher 
education programs, or who may consider becoming 
school teachers, or who wish to enhance their civic 
competence; 
(2) elementary, middle, and high school teach-
ers in need of additional training in order to effec-
tively teach in these subject area; and 
(3) graduate students and post-secondary 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.—For the purposes 
of this Act: 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘eligible in-
stitution’’ means—
(i) an institution of higher education; 
(ii) a specific program within an insti-
tution of higher education; and 
(iii) a non-profit history or academic 
organization associated with higher edu-
cation whose mission is consistent with the 
purposes of this Act. 
(B) SPECIAL
RULE.—An eligible institu-
tion within the meaning of subparagraph (A) 
may apply to award subgrants to other such eli-
gible institutions at the discretion of, and sub-
ject to the oversight of, the Secretary. 
(2) FREE INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘free insti-
tution’’ means institutions that emerged out of 
Western Civilization, such as democracy, individual 
rights, market economics, religious freedom and tol-
erance, 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 the sig-
nificant constitutional, political, intellectual, eco-
nomic, and foreign policy trends and issues that 
have shaped the course of American history; and the 
key episodes, turning points and leading figures, in-
volved 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 provide, on a com-
petitive basis, grants to eligible institutions, which shall 
be used for—
(1) History Teacher Preparation Initiatives, 
that—
(A) stress content mastery in traditional 
American history and the principals 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. 
(2) Grants to Strengthen Post-Secondary Pro-
grams in fields related to the American founding, 
free institutions, and Western civilization, particu-
larly 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-
cipals on which the American political system is based, 
including 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 therefor at such time or 
times, or in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation. 
(d) GRANT REVIEW.—The Secretary shall establish 
procedures for reviewing and evaluating grants and con-
tracts made or entered into under such programs. 
(e) GRANT AWARDS.—
(1) MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM GRANTS.—For the 
purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall award 
grants of not less than $400,000 and not more than 
$6,000,000 to eligible institutions. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—A subgrant by an eligible in-
stitution to another eligible institution is not subject 
to the minimum amount specified in paragraph (1). 
(f) MULTIPLE AWARDS.—For the purposes of this 
Act, the Secretary may award more than one grant to an 
eligible institution.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there 
are authorized to be appropriated—
(1) $140,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and 
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the succeeding 5 fiscal years. 
SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act shall take effect on September 1, 2003.
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