Saving American History Act of 2021
Bill: S.2035 | Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom (R-AR)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Saving American History Act of 2021
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds by an elementary or secondary school to teach the 1619 Project or by a local educational agency (LEA) to support its teaching in public schools. (The 1619 Project is an initiative that addresses the beginning of slavery in the United States.)
Specified federal agencies must reduce federal funds in a prorated amount to an elementary or secondary school that teaches this project or an LEA that supports its teaching in public schools. However, federal funding shall not be reduced for programs for low-income students (e.g., free or reduced-price lunch) or students with disabilities.

To prohibit Federal funds from being made available to teach the 1619 
Project curriculum in elementary schools and secondary schools, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Saving American History Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The true date of America's founding is July 4, 1776, 
        the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the 
        Second Continental Congress.
            (2) The self-evident truths set forth by that Declaration 
        are the fundamental principles upon which America was founded.
            (3) An activist movement is now gaining momentum to deny or 
        obfuscate this history by claiming that America was not founded 
        on the ideals of the Declaration but rather on slavery and 
        oppression.
            (4) This distortion of American history is being taught to 
        children in public school classrooms via the New York Times' 
        ``1619 Project'', which claims that ``nearly everything that 
        has truly made America exceptional'' grew ``out of slavery''.
            (5) The 1619 Project is a racially divisive and revisionist 
        account of history that threatens the integrity of the Union by 
        denying the true principles on which it was founded.
            (6) The Federal Government has a strong interest in 
        promoting an accurate account of the Nation's history through 
        public schools and forming young people into knowledgeable and 
        patriotic citizens.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS TO TEACH THE 1619 
              PROJECT CURRICULUM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) ESEA.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local 
        educational agency'', and ``secondary school'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
        Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of 
        Defense, and the Secretary of the Interior.
    (b) Prohibition of Use of Federal Funding for 1619 Project.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds shall be 
used by any--
            (1) elementary school or secondary school to teach the 1619 
        Project initiative of the New York Times in such school; or
            (2) local educational agency to support the teaching of the 
        1619 Project initiative of the New York Times in the public 
        schools served by such agency.
    (c) Determination of Cost and Reduction in Federal Funds.--
            (1) In general.--In the case of an elementary school or 
        secondary school that receives Federal funds and teaches the 
        1619 Project initiative of the New York Times in such school or 
        a local educational agency that supports the teaching of the 
        1619 Project initiative of the New York Times in the public 
        schools served by such agency, the Secretaries shall determine 
        the cost associated with teaching the 1619 Project, including 
        in planning time and teaching time.
            (2) Reductions.--The Secretaries, based on coordinated 
        prorated formulas established by the Secretaries, shall reduce 
        Federal funds provided to an elementary school, secondary 
        school, or local educational agency described in paragraph (1) 
        in an amount equal to the cost amount determined under 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) No reduction for certain funds.--In reducing Federal 
        funds to an elementary school, secondary school, or local 
        educational agency under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall 
        not reduce Federal funds for--
                    (A) the free and reduced price school lunch program 
                established under the Richard B. Russell National 
                School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), or any other 
                program for low-income students; or
                    (B) students with disabilities.
    (d) Future Funding.--The Secretaries shall promulgate regulations 
to ensure that Federal funds provided after the date of enactment of 
this Act to an elementary school, secondary school, or local 
educational agency comply with the requirements and restrictions 
provided under this Act.
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