Informed Electorate Act
Bill: H.R.3928 | Sponsor: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison (R-NC)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Informed Electorate Act
This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and otherwise revises the American History for Freedom grant program.
In particular, the bill allows eligible institutions of higher education to use grant funds to establish academic centers or programs that promote the importance of civic engagement and the First Amendment to the Constitution.
The bill prohibits the use of grant funds to promote, endorse, teach, or distribute material related to (1) the 1619 Project, which is an initiative that addresses the beginning of slavery in the United States; or (2) critical race theory.

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reform the American 
          History for Freedom program, 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 ``Informed Electorate Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) A growing contingent of ideological extremists seeking 
        to transform our Nation's understanding of the founding 
        principles of 1787 and what makes our country great are 
        promoting historically inaccurate and morally bankrupt 
        curriculum at elementary and secondary schools.
            (2) Too many individuals in the United States have their 
        rights of speech, peaceable assembly, and religious practice 
        violated by zealous government officials.
            (3) Informed and enthusiastic civic engagement signifies 
        and sustains a healthy body politic.
            (4) There is widespread ignorance of western civilization's 
        economic systems and historical events that have created 
        unprecedented human prosperity.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO AMERICAN HISTORY FOR FREEDOM PROGRAM.

    Section 805 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161e) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 805. AMERICAN HISTORY FOR FREEDOM.

    ``(a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (f), the Secretary is authorized to award 2-year grants, on 
a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to establish academic 
centers or academic programs that--
            ``(1) promote and impart knowledge of--
                    ``(A) traditional American history;
                    ``(B) the history and achievements of Western 
                civilization; and
                    ``(C) the importance of civic engagement and the 
                First Amendment to protect and safeguard free society; 
                and
            ``(2) such institutions continue to operate and fund after 
        the end of the grant period described in subsection (a).
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term eligible institution 
        means an institution of higher education as defined in section 
        101.
            ``(2) Free institution.--The term free institution means an 
        institution that emerged out of Western civilization, such as 
        democracy, constitutional government, individual rights, market 
        economics, religious freedom and religious tolerance, 
        meritocracy, and freedom of thought and inquiry.
            ``(3) Traditional american history.--The term traditional 
        American history means--
                    ``(A) the significant constitutional, political, 
                intellectual, economic, and foreign policy trends and 
                issues that have shaped the course of American history; 
                and
                    ``(B) the key episodes, turning points, and leading 
                figures involved in the constitutional, political, 
                intellectual, diplomatic, and economic history of the 
                United States, including the signing of the Declaration 
                of Independence, the Constitutional Convention of 1787, 
                the Bill of Rights, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 
                13th Amendment to the Constitution, the 14th Amendment 
                to the Constitution, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible institution that desires a 
        grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall include a description of--
                    ``(A) how funds made available under this section 
                will be used for the activities set forth under 
                subsection (e), including how such activities will 
                increase knowledge with respect to traditional American 
                history, free institutions, the First Amendment to the 
                Constitution, or Western civilization and how the funds 
                will increase civic engagement;
                    ``(B) how the eligible institution will ensure that 
                information about the activities funded under this 
                section is widely disseminated pursuant to subsection 
                (e)(1)(B);
                    ``(C) any activities to be undertaken pursuant to 
                subsection (e)(2)(A), including identification of 
                entities intended to participate;
                    ``(D) how funds made available under this section 
                shall be used to supplement and not supplant non-
                Federal funds available for the activities described in 
                subsection (e); and
                    ``(E) such fiscal controls and accounting 
                procedures as may be necessary to ensure proper 
                disbursement of and accounting for funding made 
                available to the eligible institution under this 
                section.
    ``(d) Award Basis.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall take into consideration the capability of the eligible 
institution to--
            ``(1) increase access to quality programming that expands 
        knowledge of traditional American history, free institutions, 
        or Western civilization;
            ``(2) involve personnel with strong expertise in 
        traditional American history, free institutions, or Western 
        civilization; and
            ``(3) sustain the activities funded under this section 
        after the grant has expired.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Required use of funds.--Funds provided under this 
        section shall be used to--
                    ``(A) establish or strengthen academic programs or 
                centers focused on traditional American history, free 
                institutions, or Western civilization, which may 
                include --
                            ``(i) design and implementation of programs 
                        of study, courses, lecture series, seminars, 
                        and symposia;
                            ``(ii) development, publication, and 
                        dissemination of instructional materials;
                            ``(iii) research;
                            ``(iv) support for faculty teaching in 
                        undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate 
                        programs;
                            ``(v) support for graduate and postgraduate 
                        fellowships, if applicable; or
                            ``(vi) teacher preparation initiatives that 
                        stress content mastery regarding traditional 
                        American history, free institutions, or Western 
                        civilization; and
                    ``(B) conduct outreach activities to ensure that 
                information about the activities funded under this 
                section is widely disseminated--
                            ``(i) to undergraduate students (including 
                        students enrolled in teacher education 
                        programs, if applicable);
                            ``(ii) to graduate students (including 
                        students enrolled in teacher education 
                        programs, if applicable);
                            ``(iii) to faculty;
                            ``(iv) to local educational agencies; and
                            ``(v) within the local community and the 
                        general public.
            ``(2) Allowable use of funds.--Funds provided under this 
        section may be used to support--
                    ``(A) collaboration with entities such as--
                            ``(i) local educational agencies, for the 
                        purpose of providing elementary and secondary 
                        school teachers an opportunity to enhance their 
                        knowledge of traditional American history, free 
                        institutions, or Western civilization; and
                            ``(ii) nonprofit organizations whose 
                        mission is consistent with the purpose of this 
                        section, such as academic organizations, 
                        museums, and libraries, for assistance in 
                        carrying out activities described under 
                        subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) other activities that meet the purposes of 
                this section.
            ``(3) Prohibited use of funds.--Funds provided under this 
        section may not be used for the purpose of promoting, 
        endorsing, teaching, or distributing material related to the 
        1619 Project or Critical Race Theory.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.''.
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