I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5398 
To amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make using critical race theory 
or critical race pedagogy in any program or activity receiving Federal 
financial assistance a violation of such Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 
Mr. GOOD of Virginia (for himself, Mr. GOSAR, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Mr. 
DUNCAN, Mrs. BOEBERT, Mr. BIGGS, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. HARRIS, Mrs. 
GREENE of Georgia, Mr. BABIN, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. TIFFANY, Mr. 
WEBER of Texas, Mr. POSEY, Mr. FALLON, Mr. BUCK, Mr. PERRY, and 
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make using 
critical race theory or critical race pedagogy in any pro-
gram or activity receiving Federal financial assistance 
a violation of such Act, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Defending Students’ 
Civil Rights Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION MAKING CRITICAL RACE 
THEORY A VIOLATION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS 
ACT. 
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000d et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 607. (a) It is a violation of section 601 to use 
critical race theory or critical race pedagogy in any pro-
gram or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. 
‘‘(b) In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘critical race pedagogy’ means— 
‘‘(A) separating students or teachers based 
on race, color, or national origin; or 
‘‘(B) assigning characteristics or assump-
tions to individuals based on race, color, or na-
tional origin. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘critical race theory’ means a 
curriculum that establishes that— 
‘‘(A) one race or sex is inherently superior 
to another race or sex; 
‘‘(B) the United States is fundamentally 
racist or sexist; 
‘‘(C) an individual, by virtue of their race 
or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, 
whether consciously or unconsciously; 
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‘‘(D) an individual should be discriminated 
against or receive adverse treatment solely or 
partly because of the race or sex of such indi-
vidual; 
‘‘(E) members of one race or sex cannot 
and should not attempt to treat others without 
respect to race or sex; 
‘‘(F) an individual’s moral character is 
necessarily determined by the race or sex of 
such individual; 
‘‘(G) an individual, by virtue of their race 
or sex, bears responsibility for actions com-
mitted in the past by other members of the 
same race or sex; 
‘‘(H) any individual should feel discomfort, 
guilt, anguish, or any other form of psycho-
logical distress on account of the race or sex of 
such individual; and 
‘‘(I) meritocracy or traits such as hard 
work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created 
by a particular race to oppress another race or 
individual.’’. 
Æ 
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