Anti-Communism Week Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6540
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-15T07:08:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Anti-Communism Week Act (H.R. 6540) aims to establish a national observance to honor the victims of communism, highlight its historical harms, and reaffirm the United States' commitment to liberty, individual rights, and opposition to communist ideologies. It serves as a symbolic reminder of the dangers of communism and promotes public reflection on freedom and human dignity.
Key Provisions
- Findings: The bill includes 10 congressional findings that condemn communism as a destructive ideology responsible for over 100 million deaths, suppression of faith and freedom, and ongoing threats disguised as modern political movements like "social justice" or "democratic socialism." These findings emphasize the U.S. rejection of communism and its dedication to protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Designation of Anti-Communism Week: The President is requested (but not required) to designate one week each year as "Anti-Communism Week" and issue a proclamation encouraging Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities to observe it.
- Technical Amendments: Adds a new section (Section 149) to Chapter 1 of Title 36 of the United States Code, which covers patriotic and national observances, and updates the table of contents accordingly.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a new federal observance by amending Title 36 of the U.S. Code, which already lists various patriotic holidays and weeks (e.g., National Freedom Day). Unlike mandatory holidays, this is a non-binding request to the President, similar to other symbolic designations like National Hispanic Heritage Month.
- No substantive changes to enforcement, funding, or penalties; it is purely ceremonial and does not alter existing anti-communist laws or policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact; the White House may issue an annual proclamation at its discretion, potentially involving minor administrative effort from the Office of the President or cultural affairs offices. No new funding or obligations are created.
- On Citizens: Encourages voluntary public participation in educational events, memorials, or discussions about communism's history, fostering awareness among schools, communities, and veterans' groups. It could promote civic education without compelling action.
- On International Relations: Signals a strong U.S. stance against communism, which may resonate with allies opposing authoritarian regimes (e.g., in Eastern Europe or Asia) and serve as a diplomatic tool to highlight human rights abuses in countries with communist governments. It has no binding effect on foreign policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Victims of Communism and Their Descendants: Groups like Cuban-Americans, Eastern European immigrants, or organizations such as the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, who may use the week for remembrance and advocacy.
- U.S. Citizens and Educators: General public, schools, and nonprofits focused on history and civics, who could organize events to discuss totalitarian regimes.
- Government Officials: Primarily the President and Congress, as the bill's sponsors (a bipartisan group of representatives) reflect political interest in anti-communist messaging.
- International Communities: Nations or dissidents opposing communism, potentially strengthening U.S. soft power in global human rights dialogues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill's language uses "requested" rather than "shall," making it advisory and avoiding any enforcement issues. It aligns with First Amendment protections for free speech and expression by promoting voluntary observances without restricting viewpoints.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it upholds the government's role in recognizing historical events (as in Article I's commerce and general welfare clauses) without infringing on individual rights or establishing religion (despite references to "God-given rights," which are interpretive and not prescriptive).
- Political: Represents a congressional statement reinforcing anti-communist sentiment in U.S. politics, potentially influencing debates on foreign aid, trade with communist states, or domestic ideologies. As an introduced bill (not yet passed), it highlights partisan priorities but includes bipartisan cosponsors, suggesting broad symbolic appeal without deep policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Anti-Communism Week Act — issued 2025-12-09 — PDF (4 pages)