Expressing the sense of Congress that any public rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" must be performed as written by Francis Scott Key, in English.

Bill: 119-hconres-43
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Introduced: 2025-07-10
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
Latest action: action_date: 2025-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 43 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 10, 2025 Mrs. Bice (for herself, Mr. Rogers of Alabama , Mr. Moore of Alabama , Mr. Feenstra , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Miller-Meeks , Mr. Downing , Mrs. Houchin , and Mr. Carter of Georgia ) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress that any public rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner must be performed as written by Francis Scott Key, in English.

Whereas The Star-Spangled Banner , written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, was designated as the national anthem of the United States by Congress in 1931; Whereas the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner , as originally composed in English, reflect the historical and cultural significance of the United States resilience and unity during a time of national challenge; Whereas the English-language text of the anthem, as written by Francis Scott Key, serves as a unifying symbol of American heritage and patriotism; Whereas preserving the original English lyrics in public performances honors the historical context and intent of the anthem as a representation of the Nation’s values and identity; and Whereas maintaining the integrity of the anthem’s original language fosters a shared understanding and respect for its meaning among all Americans: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1) any public rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner should be performed as written by Francis Scott Key, in the English language, to preserve its historical and cultural integrity; (2) public performances of the national anthem should reflect the original lyrics to maintain its unifying significance for the people of the United States; and (3) performers and organizers of public events are encouraged to honor the tradition of presenting The Star-Spangled Banner in its original English form, as a tribute to its historical and patriotic importance.